Australia to detain visa overstayers under new migration crackdown, drawing concern from tourism sector
SYDNEY, Sept 18 — Australia will detain tourists who overstay visas to send a message of deterrence under new rule...
The Australian government plans to detain tourists who overstay their visas in a bid to deter future violations, according to a new migration crackdown announced by the ruling Labour party. The move aims to address the rising number of visa overstayers, which has reached 77,000. Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite stated that the policy is designed to send a message of deterrence, as those aware of the consequences may be less likely to break the rules.
The government intends to open 250 additional beds and hire 100 compliance officers to manage the increased number of detained tourists. However, the Australian Tourism Industry Council expressed concern over the policy's potential impact on the country's image as a welcoming destination, warning that such measures could be damaging to Australia's tourism sector.
The Refugee Council of Australia also raised safety and legal concerns, highlighting that punitive detention is not permitted under the country's immigration act.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
