Advocates for domestic violence victim-survivors warn that Australia's planned crackdown on visa overstayers will empower abusers who manipulate the migration system. Immigration lawyer Ann Emmanuel, principal solicitor at the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre in New South Wales, estimates that over 80% of clients face immigration-related domestic and family violence issues. Perpetrators often control their partners' visa applications, passports, and interactions with the Department of Home Affairs, leaving victims at risk of detention or deportation.
The federal government and opposition have proposed overhauling the migration system, including returning to pre-2015 policies where visa overstayers are placed in detention centres. Immigration Minister Tony Burke and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam defend these measures, asserting they target those without lawful entitlement to remain in Australia. However, experts argue these policies overlook the complexities of abuse within the migration system.
Maria Kissouri, CEO of the Immigrant Women's Speakout Association of NSW, notes that threats of deportation and detention are already weaponized by abusers. University of Melbourne professor Marie Segrave emphasizes that the proposed changes signal to vulnerable women that they are not safe, strengthening perpetrators' leverage. While the government introduced a safety net in 2024 for permanent residency applicants, advocates criticize its limitations and call for a new three-year visa to protect victim-survivors.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam acknowledges the need to consider coercive control in individual cases but maintains the Coalition's policy aims to prevent misuse of temporary visas. Advocates argue that systemic reforms are necessary to address migration-related abuse effectively, ensuring safety nets are in place from the outset.