Government’s proposed new entry ban powers could shut the door on people fleeing danger from countries like Iran

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 10th March

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is appalled at the Government’s new Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No.1) Bill 2026, which aims to prevent people fleeing to Australia from places like Iran and Lebanon, even when they already hold a temporary visa allowing them to enter. This comes on the same day as the Albanese Government has offered protection to members of the Iranian women’s football team. 

Under the Bill, the Home Affairs Minister would be able to issue an “arrival control determination” (an entry ban) suspending the visas of a designated “class of non-citizens,” preventing them from travelling to Australia. While each determination can last up to six months, the Minister could repeatedly renew these bans, effectively preventing people in danger from entering Australia indefinitely. 

The Bill gives the Minister the power to create these entry bans using regulations, which can normally be disallowed in the Senate as a normal part of accountability to the Parliament. However, the Bill expressly says that the regulations used to impose these entry bans cannot be disallowed – raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability.

The ASRC said the powers are designed to be used to stop people fleeing conflict from reaching safety, and that the Bill is especially likely to affect Iranian and Lebanese Australians and their extended families, many of whom may hold tourist visas to travel for family events.

The organisation also raised concerns about the contradiction between Australia’s foreign policy rhetoric and its migration policy, with the Albanese Government sending military forces to assist Gulf States in fighting Iran.

Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM, CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said: 

“Australia and the United States are sending military forces to the Middle East in the name of liberating the people of Iran, while at the same time legislating so they can shut the door on those very same people when they seek safety here – even when they already have a visa.

‘If people already have a visa to travel to Australia, and this kind of violence has broken out in their home country  – why would we not want to help them? On the very same day that the Government has acted so swiftly and compassionately to protect members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, they want to slam the door on family members of Australian citizens.

“The Albanese Government’s actions today send a disturbing message about who is worthy of protection and who is not.”

For media enquiries or interviews contact:

Natasha Blucher on 0412 034 821 or media@asrc.org.au