Unlawful Non-Citizens: The Rise in Character Visa Cancellations

Recent changes to the Migration Act have resulted in a spike in the number of visa cancellations on the basis of adverse character and credibility grounds.

The changes raise significant human rights questions around enhanced ministerial powers, unlawful detention of immigrants and proportionate responses to those convicted of criminal offences.

Join our panel of experts for this discussion on how political leadership and the rule of law in relation to visas and citizenship are shaping contemporary Australia.

This event will be chaired by Radio National's Paul Barclay.

Our Panellists

Julian Burnside AO

Julian Burnside AO QC is an Australian barrister who practises principally in commercial litigation, trade practices and administrative law.

He is also a human rights and refugee advocate, and author.

Mark Burgess

Mark is the CEO of the Police Federation of Australia, the national representative body of Australian police officers.

He remains a sworn officer of the NSW Police Force with the rank of sergeant.

Kylie McGrath

Kylie is a solicitor with experience in the areas of migration, disability and mental health law as well as community development and disaster recovery.

She currently works as a solicitor for the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service and was previously a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva.

Dr Peter Billings

Dr Peter Billings is an Associate Professor at the TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland.

His research interests are in particular areas of public law, administrative law, immigration and refugee law, social welfare law and the law relating to Indigenous Australians.

This event is proudly presented in partnership with the University of Queensland's TC Beirne School of Law.

Refreshments will be provided following the panel discussion.

Tweet about this event using the hashtag #CaxtonJIFS.

The Justice in Focus Series is a set of regular public forums that enrich public debate on topics of local and national importance. Each forum features a panel of leading thinkers representing a range of socio-legal views on the topic. 

Caxton Legal Centre partners with the law schools at Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology and The University of Queensland to present the series.