The Albanese government is facing fierce backlash from the Greens and crossbench after introducing emergency legislation to freeze temporary visas, a move critics label a "discriminatory" shift in Australian migration law.
Tabled in the House of Representatives on March 10, the bill grants the Home Affairs Minister power to suspend entry for holders of approved tourist or business visas for up to six months during periods of global instability.
While Assistant Citizenship Minister Julian Hill argued the mechanism is essential to "assess evolving situations and consider the national interest," the timing has sparked allegations that the policy specifically targets those fleeing conflict in the Middle East.
Greens leader Larissa Waters condemned the proposal as a "new low" for the government, describing the move to block potential asylum seekers—particularly from Iran—as "morally bankrupt."
The sentiment was echoed by Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie, the sole voice of opposition in the House.
Wilkie lambasted the bill as a "kneejerk reaction" that allows the state to subjectively decide "which imperilled people are worth saving," effectively overturning decades of established immigration practice.
The controversy is sharpened by a perceived paradox in government action: the same week the bill was tabled, protection visas were granted to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team.
While Waters welcomed the safety of the athletes, she accused the government of "hypocrisy" for closing the door on broader refugee cohorts while hand-picking high-profile cases.
Despite the outcry, the bill is expected to pass the lower house with the Coalition’s in-principle support.