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.

Confirmation that an immigration detention guard at the Mantra Hotel in Melbourne has tested positive for Covid-19 reinforces the need for detainees to be released into community detention says Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim, who has visited the Mantra and seen first-hand the cramped conditions.

“This is an extremely concerning development as the virus will spread like wildfire if it gets a foothold in immigration detention facilities,” McKim said.

The Greens welcome the High Court’s decision regarding the government’s ability to deport First Nations peoples.

“Trying to deport First Nations peoples whose country we stole is a fundamentally racist thing to do,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“All First Nations peoples who are in Immigration detention should now be immediately released.”

“It is also time to rein in the authority of both the Immigration Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs so we don't see these kinds of gross abuses of power.”

Medecins Sans Frontiers' revelations about the conditions of the people Australia is detaining on Nauru have laid bare the truly despearte situation, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"MSF have made it clear that they have never seen such traumatised people and that every refugee presented with suicidal symptoms," Senator McKim said.

"These are stomach turning revelations which confirm yet again that offshore detention is destroying innocent lives." 

The cuts to support for people seeking asylum in Australia are unconscionably cruel and designed to force people into poverty, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“Cutting the status resolution support service will force people into poverty, homelessness and exploitative jobs,” Senator McKim said.

“Unfortunately, it is a continuation of Peter Dutton’s determination to punish migrants, particularly refugees and people seeking asylum.”

“To retrospectively punish people in this way is unconscionably cruel.”

Peter Dutton’s cuts to support payments for people seeking asylum are cruel, punitive and unfair, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Nick McKim says.

“This is a deeply unfair decision which could force people into poverty, homelessness and exploitative jobs,” Senator McKim said.

“It is a continuation of Dutton’s determination to punish migrants and undermine multiculturalism.”

“Many people affected by these cuts are studying, and all of them are trying to rebuild their lives.”

Leaked cabinet documents show the extent to which the Liberals have undermined the law to deliberately cause harm to people they know are owed protection.

"Scott Morrison and his successor Peter Dutton have gamed this country's laws in order to deliberately harm refugees," Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

"Morrison and his department deliberately slowed applications down and put artificial barriers in the way of people whom he knew were owed protection in Australia."

Peter Dutton placing unreasonable deadlines on claims for asylum is an attack on some of Australia's most vulnerable people and undermines natural justice and the rule of law, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.

"By setting an arbitrary deadline Mr Dutton is deliberately setting desperate people up to fail," Senator McKim said.

"There is simply not enough time for 7500 people to receive the legal advice they need and submit their applications on time."

The Greens will stand against the government's discriminatory anti-immigration agenda, and specifically against Minister Dutton's power grab through the Visa Revalidation Bill.

"This government has made it clear that they want to see an end to multicultural Australia," Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim said.

"Peter Dutton, our anti-immigration minister, is seeking a further expansion of his powers so he can create two classes of Australian citizens, and undermine the security of all migrants living in Australia."

The Greens will move to amend Australia's visa laws to give Parliament the power to block foreign leaders from visiting Australia on the grounds of character.

"Parliament is sovereign in this country," Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said

"Consistent with our position that Parliament should have the final say on Australia going to war, we believe that Parliament should have the right to refuse entry to, or deport, foreign leaders on the basis of their character."

"This issue has been crystallised for us by Donald Trump becoming US President."