Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). The amendment was introduced by Griffith MP Max Chandler-Mather (Greens) and would have replaced the usual wording of the second reading motion with the wording below. Declining to give a second reading means refusing to agree with the bill's main idea.

Amendment text

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: "the House declines to give the bill a second reading and notes that:

(1) the Government is seeking to rush through legislation that will punish people, based on what country they come from and harm people seeking asylum who have already been subjected to a cruel and broken system; and

(2) this bill is nothing more than an election tactic by the Government, trying to outflank the Coalition in a race to the bottom on immigration, which will only punish migrants and whip up racism".

What does this bill do?

According to the bills homepage, this bill:

Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: require non-citizens who are on a removal pathway and have exhausted all avenues to remain in Australia to cooperate with steps taken for the purpose of arranging their lawful removal from Australia; and make minor and technical amendments.