Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Hansard source

I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill and I ask the leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (39), as circulated, together.

Leave granted.

I move government amendments (1) to (39), as circulated, together:

(1)   Clause 1, page 1 (line 6), omit "Offshore", substitute "Regional".

(2)   Schedule 1, heading, page 3 (line 1), omit "Offshore", substitute "Regional".

(3)   Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 7), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(4)   Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (lines 16 to 20), omit the item, substitute:

4 Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

regional processing country means a country designated by the Minister under subsection 198AB(1) as a regional processing country.

(5)   Schedule 1, item 6, page 3 (line 27), omit "to an offshore", substitute "to a regional".

(6)   Schedule 1, item 7, page 3 (line 29) to page 4 (line 1), omit the item, substitute:

7 Paragraphs 36(2)(a) and (aa)

Omit "to whom", substitute "in respect of whom".

(7)   Schedule 1, items 9 and 10, page 4 (lines 4 to 9), omit the items.

(8)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 1), omit the heading to Subdivision B, substitute:

Subdivision B—Regional processing

(9)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 11), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(10)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 12), after "Minister", insert "and Parliament".

(11)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 13), omit "offshore", substitute "regional".

(12)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 14), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(13)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 17), omit the heading to section 198AB, substitute:

198AB Regional processing country

(14)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (lines 18 and 19), omit "in writing, designate that a country is an offshore", substitute "by legislative instrument, designate that a country is a regional".

(15)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (after line 19), after subsection 198AB(1), insert:

(1A)   A legislative instrument under subsection (1):

  (a)   may designate only one country; and

  (b)   must not provide that the designation ceases to have effect.

(1B)   Despite subsection 12(1) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, a legislative instrument under subsection (1) of this section commences at the earlier of the following times:

  (a)   immediately after both Houses of the Parliament have passed a resolution approving the designation;

  (b)   immediately after both of the following apply:

     (i)   a copy of the designation has been laid before each House of the Parliament under section 198AC;

     (ii)   5 sitting days of each House have passed since the copy was laid before that House without it passing a resolution disapproving the designation.

(16)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 6 (line 22), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(17)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 7 (line 11), omit "in writing", substitute "by legislative instrument".

(18)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 7 (lines 14 and 15), omit subsection 198AB(8).

(19)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 7 (lines 22 and 23), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(20)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 7 (line 28), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(21)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 8 (lines 26 and 27), omit the heading to section 198AD, substitute:

198AD Taking offshore entry persons to a regional processing country

(22)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 8 (lines 33 and 34), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(23)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 11), omit "to an offshore", substitute "to a regional".

(24)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 19), omit "offshore", substitute "regional".

(25)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 22), omit "offshore", substitute "regional".

(26)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 9 (line 31), omit "the offshore", substitute "the regional".

(27)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 14), omit the heading to section 198AF, substitute:

198AF No regional processing country

(28)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 16), omit "offshore", substitute "regional".

(29)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 17), omit the heading to section 198AG, substitute:

198AG Non-acceptance by regional processing country

(30)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 19), omit "offshore processing country, or each offshore", substitute "regional processing country, or each regional".

(31)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 11 (line 27), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(32)   Schedule 1, item 25, page 12 (line 5), omit "offshore", substitute "regional".

(33)   Schedule 1, item 26, page 12 (line 15), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(34)   Schedule 1, item 26, page 12 (line 17), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(35)   Schedule 1, item 27, page 12 (line 21), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(36)   Schedule 1, item 36, page 13 (line 18), omit "the commencement of this item", substitute "13 August 2012".

(37)   Schedule 2, item 2, page 14 (lines 10 to 13), omit the item, substitute:

2 Section 4

Insert:

regional processing country has the same meaning as in the Migration Act 1958.

(38)   Schedule 2, item 4, page 14 (line 23), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

(39)   Schedule 2, item 8, page 15 (line 21), omit "an offshore", substitute "a regional".

These are important amendments that I foreshadowed yesterday, when this bill was brought on. These amendments reflect the recommendation of the Houston panel that instruments allowing for offshore processing places be laid before the House and be disallowable by both houses of parliament. It also reflects discussions between the government and the opposition to ensure that if such an instrument is designated, for example, in an extended non-sitting period, there still be an opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny and parliamentary approval. I understand that these amendments will meet with the agreement of the House.

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