Resumption of travel for temporary visa holders is welcome news and a win for thousands of people whose lives have been disrupted for more than 20 months, the Greens say.

“While this announcement is long overdue, and nothing can erase the immense pain and trauma that the border closure has caused, this news will be celebrated by many thousands of people who hold visas for Australia,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

The Greens have today tabled legislation to extend and reinstate the temporary visas of people who were stranded overseas because of international border closures.

“Tens of thousands of temporary visa holders, including people with established homes, jobs and in some cases partners in Australia, were overseas when Australia’s international borders closed due to Covid-19,” Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

The Covid outbreak at the Park Hotel detention facility was a preventable crisis that is a direct result of Government negligence, the Greens say.

“The Liberals were warned repeatedly that this would happen, but because of their cruel indifference they left people in cramped and unsafe conditions,” Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“These are people who have been locked up for over eight years and were in Australia for medical treatment. It is a complete failure of duty of care at every possible level.”

The Australian Government cannot just wash its hands of the people it exiled to Papua New Guinea, the Greens say.

“Today is a day to remember the people who died as a result of being illegally exiled to Papua New Guinea, and the countless other lives that were destroyed,” Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“People who sought asylum in Australia remain Australia’s responsibility under international law, and no amount of bureaucratic maneuvering can change that fact.

The Australian Government should immediately issue bridging visas to Afghan people in Afghanistan who have made substantive visa applications, the Greens say.

“The Government must expedite visas to give people at least a chance to leave Afghanistan and get to safety,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“We understand that the situation around the Kabul Airport is extremely dangerous and unpredictable, and people may not be able to access flights.”

The Greens welcome the news that holders of Prospective Marriage Visas, who applied more than 12 months ago, will be exempt from the travel ban.

"This is an epic win for couples who have been unfairly separated through the pandemic," Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

"They already had to prove their relationships to the Department, and spent thousands of dollars on paperwork."

"Their relationships and marriages have been unnecessarily put on hold, and it's great they can now resume their lives together."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s refusal to increase Australia’s humanitarian intake to respond to the Afghanistan crisis is an insult and a failure of leadership, the Greens say.

“Given Australia’s decades of interference in Afghanistan and our culpability for the current instability, today’s announcement is grossly inadequate and a complete failure of leadership,” Greens spokesperson for Immigration and Citizenship Nick McKim said.

The Greens have responded to reports the Australian Government will pause deportations to Afghanistan, saying it is not nearly enough given our culpability for the current crisis.

The Greens are calling on the federal government to provide 20,000 permanent protection visas, in addition to Australia’s annual humanitarian intake, for Afghan people with a well-founded fear of being persecuted by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Australian Government should provide immediate assistance to Afghan people both on the ground in Afghanistan and by providing protection here in Australia.

“Australia should immediately offer permanent protection visas for up to 20,000 people from Afghanistan who are at risk of persecution from the Taliban,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“The Canadian government has recently announced that it will do this, and we should follow suit.”