Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the main idea of the bill. In other words, they voted to read the bill for a second time. Because this vote was successful, the House will now discuss the bill in more detail.

What is the bill's main idea?

According to the bills digest, the purpose of the bill is to:

specify that a person does not pass the character test—and may have their visa cancelled or visa application refused—if they have been convicted of a ‘designated offence’.

A 'designated offence' is one that:

• involves one or more of a list of specified ‘physical elements’ and
• is punishable by a maximum or fixed term of imprisonment of not less than two years.

Physical elements include violence against a person, non-consensual conduct of a sexual nature and using or possessing a weapon. It is broad enough to include conduct that is connected to such offences, such as aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of such an offence.