2016
Contents
Submission into the inquiry into freedom of speech (December 2016)
On 8 November 2016, the Attorney-General referred an inquiry into freedom of speech in Australia to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. This is a submission into whether the operation of Part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (including sections 18C and 18D) imposed unreasonable restrictions on freedom of speech; and whether the complaints-handling procedures of the Australian Human Rights Commission should be reformed.
Submission into the inquiry into the serious allegations of abuse, neglect and self-harm on Nauru and Manus Island (November 2016)
On 12 September 2016, the Senate referred an inquiry into the serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of people seeking asylum in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre, to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in March 2017.
Submission into the inquiry into the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016 (November 2016)
On 10 November 2016, the Senate referred an inquiry into the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016 [Provisions] to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee. Submissions closed on 14 November 2016. This submission opposes legislation which would effectively bar anyone who has ever been sent to Nauru or Manus Island under Australia’s offshore processing regime from ever visitng Australia. The Committee published its report on 22 November 2016, with a majority of the Committee recommending that the Bill be passed, with the Labor and Greens Senators dissenting.On the same day, the Parliament of Australia’s Joint Committee on Human Rights published its Scrutiny Report, requesting further advice from the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on the Bill’s compatibility with human rights.
Regional Processing Cohort Bill 2016 Submission FINAL
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Submission on proposal to introduce temporary parent visas (October 2016)
On 21 June 2016, the Australian Government committed to changing existing visa arrangements to enable sponsored parents to visit their family in Australia for a continuous period of up to five years, if re-elected. This proposal was also considered as part of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the migrant intake in Australia. This submission expresses our concerns about the impact of a temporary sponsored parent visa on people who come to Australia for humanitarian reasons.
Submission Temporary Visa For Parents 20161031 Size : 331.5 kB Format : PDF
Submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into human services (August 2016)
On 29 April 2016, the Treasurer referred an inquiry into human services reform to the Productivity Commission. The Productivity Commission was requested to undertake an inquiry into Australia’s human services, including health, education, and community services, with a focus on innovative ways to improve outcomes through introducing the principles of competition and informed user choice whilst maintaining or improving quality of service. The final report has been published. This submission expressed concerns about increased competition in the settlement services sector and the role of user choice in this context.
Submission to the Victorian Government on the State Disability Plan (July 2016)
The Victorian Government invited feedback into its state disability plan 2017-2020. The disability plan is an overarching framework for improving the way mainstream services and environments work for people with disabilities – not just for those supported by the NDIS, but for all people with a disability living in or visiting Victoria. This submission provides recommendations to ensure Victoria’s State Disability Plan reflects the experiences of refugees with disability.
Submission on dispute resolution in Victorian residential tenancy laws (July 2016)
On 26 November 2014, the Victorian Government announced its platform for housing-related initiatives, known as the Plan for Fairer Safer Housing. This submission expressed concerns about the adequacy of dispute resolution laws for residential tenancy agreements in Victoria.
Submission on the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 (April 2016)
On 17 March 2016, the Senate referred the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 [Provisions] to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. The inquiry and the Bill lapsed because of the election in 2016.This Bill replicates Schedule 4 of the Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No 1) 2015 (the earlier Bill). RCOA made a submission on this earlier Bill and this submission restates our opposition to these provisions.
Submission to the inquiry into the conditions and treatment of people seeking asylum and refugees at the regional processing centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea (March 2016)
On 12 October 2015, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (the committee) began an inquiry into the conditions and treatment of people at the regional processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea. This inquiry lapsed due to the election in 2016.
Submission to the inquiry into accommodation for people with disabilities (March 2016)
The Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was established on 1 September 2016. This submission makes recommendations for housing for people with disabilities from a refugee background. The inquiry lapsed as a result of the election in 2016.
Submission on the Migration Amendment (Character Cancellation Consequential Provisions) Bill 2016 (March 2016)
On 25 February 2016, the Senate referred the inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Character Cancellation Consequential Provisions) Bill 2016 to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. The Committee reported on 16 March 2016. The Bill passed the House of Representatives but lapsed due to the 2016 election. This submission repeats our opposition to legislation that extends already punitive provisions enabling visas to be cancelled and people to be detained.
Submission on the indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment in Australia (March 2016)
On 2 December 2015, the Senate referred an inquiry into the Indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment in Australia, to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report for reporting by 30 July 2016. The inquiry lapsed due to the election called in 2016. This submission highlights our concerns about the indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment.
Submission on the Affordable Housing Working Group’s consultation into Innovative Financing Models (March 2016)
On 7 January 2016, the Australian Government announced the establishment of an Affordable Housing Working Group following a request from Treasurers at the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) meeting in October 2015 for further work on housing affordability. The Working Group has concluded its consultations and produced its report. This submission focused on the challenges of affordable housing for people from refugee backgrounds.
Submission on the Family Payments Structural Reform and Participation Measures Bill 2015 (February 2016)
On 3 December 2015, the Senate referred the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Payments Structural Reform and Participation Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2015 to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. This Bill makes recommendations in relation to proposed changes to family payments, which would affect people from a refugee background. The Committee reported on 1 March 2016. The Bill passed the House of Representatives but lapsed due to the 2016 election.
1602 Family Payments Structural Reform
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Submission on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Measures) Bill 2015 (February 2016)
On 3 December 2015, the Senate referred the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Measures) Bill 2015 to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. The Committee reported on 22 February 2016. The Bill passed Parliament on 29 February 2016. This submission expresses concerns about changes to family benefits that would affect people from a refugee background.
Submission on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budget Repair) Bill 2015 (January 2016)
On 3 December 2015, the Senate referred the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budget Repair) Bill 2015 to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. The Committee reported on 4 February 2016. The Bill passed the House of Representatives but lapsed with the 2016 election. This submission opposes parts of a bill that would reduce benefits available to people from a refugee background.
