Supplementary submission: Inquiry into the Migration (Validation of Port Appointment) Bill 2018
Law Council representatives appeared before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in relation to the inquiry into the Migration (Validation of Port Appointment) Bill 2018 (the Bill) on 3 September 2018.
In the course of providing evidence, the Law Council was asked for its view on whether it is content with the concept of making the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands a port in the future. The Hansard transcript of this exchange reads as follows:
Senator HUME: Is the Law Council recommending that the bill be passed with amendments or is the Law Council recommending that the bill not pass?
Mr MacDonald: The Law Council does not support the bill in its current form. We would require further details from the department as to the necessity of the measures, in particular acknowledging the detriment and human rights concerns that the measures give rise to. That is particularly because of the retrospectivity.
Senator HUME: But the Law Council is content with the concept of making Ashmore, and therefore the Cartier Islands, a port in the future?
Mr MacDonald: I'm not in a position to answer that. I can certainly take it on notice.
Senator HUME: Thank you.
You can read the full submission below.