What was debated in Parliament
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill says procedural fairness does not apply to certain steps in removing non-citizens who have no right to stay, such as arranging their transfer to a third country like Nauru or sharing their information with foreign governments. It also makes past visa decisions made before the High Court's NZYQ ruling valid, even though they relied on an old understanding of the law. The debate focused on community safety, the right to be heard, how many people the bill could cover, the cost of the Nauru deal, and how quickly the bill was passed.
Arguments made in support
The Government said people near the end of the removal process were using procedural fairness to delay their removal, and the bill puts a Federal Court ruling beyond doubt.
The Government said the bill does not affect fairness in visa refusal or cancellation decisions, merits review, or protections against returning people to harm.
Coalition speakers supported the bill, saying it stops members of the NZYQ cohort with serious criminal records using the courts to delay removal.
One Nation's Malcolm Roberts supported the bill as giving a real chance of removing released people who had committed crimes.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Independents and the Greens said removing the right to be heard is a serious step, as people could not raise family, health or safety risks before removal.
Critics said the bill could reach far more than the NZYQ cohort, with some estimates of up to 80,000 people on bridging visas.
Several crossbench MPs said making past decisions valid after the fact undermines the rule of law, and that the bill was rushed without a committee inquiry.
Coalition senators backed the bill but criticised a lack of detail on the Nauru deal, and moved amendments to lower the bar for preventive detention and tighten mandatory sentencing.
The Greens and some independents raised concerns about Nauru, Australia's international obligations, and the cost of the arrangement, and the Greens moved amendments to remove parts of the bill.
76 speeches by 30 members in the House and Senate over 7 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 26 Aug 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 28 Aug 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 1 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 2 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 2 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 3 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 4 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.