Australia to detain tourists who overstay visas amid immigration crackdown

Australia plans to detain tourists who overstay their visas in an effort to send a warning to others, according to a minister's announcement on Friday. The ruling Labour party claims the move is not intended to respond to the rise of the far-right One Nation party, which has gained popularity by proposing significant reductions in migration.

On Thursday, new reforms were unveiled, including stopping family members from accompanying students, implementing ballots for working holidaymakers, and strictly enforcing penalties for overstayers. Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite stated that tourists would be placed in immigration detention to lower the number of visa overstayers, which has reached 77,000.

He added that once the consequences of overstaying become known, tourists will be discouraged from breaking the rules. Immigration Minister Tony Burke revealed that the government would create 250 beds and add 100 compliance officers to handle the visa overstayers in various facilities. However, the Australian Tourism Industry Council's CEO, Erin McLeod, criticized the idea, stating that it harms Australia's reputation as a welcoming destination and could be damaging to the tourism industry, which is vital to the Australian economy.

The Refugee Council of Australia's director of policy, Rebecca Eckard, raised safety and legal concerns, pointing out that the use of punitive detention is not authorized under Australia's immigration act. She also highlighted the government's ombudsman's report, which raised concerns about inadequate staffing and healthcare access in immigration detention centers.