Asylum seekers on temporary humanitarian concern visas could not be blocked from applying for permanent protection visas, ruled the Australian high court in a joint unanimous decision on Thursday, reports the Guardian.
An executive director of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre welcomed the decision.
“It is significant because the high court has found yet another attempt by government to block people being given permanent protection and circumvent parliament is unlawful,” said David Manne.
Welcoming the decision, the principle solicitor of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), Katie Wrigley, said,
“The clients that are affected by this case have spent incredibly long times in detention in Australia, and RACS supports a process that is efficient and that will allow them to be considered for permanent protection."
The court decision comes as Asylum seeker casework organisations had begun to face several refusals for permanent protection visa applications, and instead encouraged to offer clients temporary humanitarian concern protection Visas.
An executive director of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre welcomed the decision.
“It is significant because the high court has found yet another attempt by government to block people being given permanent protection and circumvent parliament is unlawful,” said David Manne.
Welcoming the decision, the principle solicitor of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), Katie Wrigley, said,
“The clients that are affected by this case have spent incredibly long times in detention in Australia, and RACS supports a process that is efficient and that will allow them to be considered for permanent protection."
The court decision comes as Asylum seeker casework organisations had begun to face several refusals for permanent protection visa applications, and instead encouraged to offer clients temporary humanitarian concern protection Visas.