Indefinite detention of refugees is unlawful under international law, but Australia has quietly made it legal

To counter the court’s ruling against unlawful detention, the government simply wrote a new law allowing it to do whatever it wants

In 2012, a person placed in immigration detention in Australia was held, on average, for less than 100 days.

In 2021, that figure is 627 days – 20 months – the highest it has ever been.

Related: New law allows Australian government to indefinitely detain refugees

Troubling for Australia’s democracy is the practice of governments legislating their way around court decisions

Related: I saw first-hand the terrible toll detention is taking on the Biloela family | Kristina Keneally

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This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.