Maqqa wrote on Mar 13
th, 2013 at 4:30pm:
NBNMyths wrote on Mar 13
th, 2013 at 3:32pm:
Getting somewhat sick of this debate, I thought going straight to the Act may be useful:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ma1958118/1. The term "illegal immigrant" is no longer part of the Act.
2. It has been essentially replaced by the term "non-lawful citizen".
3. A person arriving by boat seeking asylum is only considered a "non-lawful citizen" for the period between entering the Australian
migration zone, and being intercepted. Once they are intercepted, they are no longer considered "non-lawful citizens".
4. The
migration zone includes all Australian states, territories, ports and installations, but
does not include the sea around those states and territories, unless in a port.
By my interpretation,
unless the boat makes it to land or port before being intercepted, then they are never considered "non-lawful citizens" under the Act.Perhaps Maqqa, you'd like to find any section of the Act that supports your claim that they are "illegals".
(1) I have NEVER used the terms "illegal immigrants" to describe these people
(2) Migration Act Section 14 sub 2 recognise the name change from illegal entrants to unlawful non-citizens
(3) The word unlawful is the same as the word illegal under various accepted dictionaries you can search
(4) The act of breaking the law is describe as being illegal - therefore a bunch of people breaking the law are called illegals
Ummm. You seem to have missed the point. Unless the boat reaches Australian land or an Australian port
before being intercepted, then the people on board are never non-lawful citizens (illegals).
If they are intercepted in the ocean, they immediately become lawful citizens, and are escorted to Australia as such. See
s42
Quote:(1) Subject to subsections (2), (2A) and (3), a non-citizen must not travel to Australia without a visa that is in effect.
(2A) Subsection (1) does not apply to a non-citizen in relation to travel to Australia:
(a) if the travel is by a New Zealand citizen who holds and produces a New Zealand passport that is in force; or
(b) if the travel is by a non-citizen who holds and produces a passport that is in force and is endorsed with an authority to reside indefinitely on Norfolk Island; or
(c) if:
(i) the non-citizen is brought to the migration zone under subsection 245F(9) of this Act or 185(3A) of the Customs Act 1901 ; and
(ii) the non-citizen is a person who would, if in the migration zone, be an unlawful non-citizen; or
s245F Quote:Powers of officers in respect of people found on detained ships or aircraft
(9) If an officer detains a ship or aircraft under this section, the officer may:
(a) detain any person found on the ship or aircraft and bring the person, or cause the person to be brought, to the migration zone; or
ie: Unless they reach land/port
before being intercepted, they have
not broken any Australian law, and therefore
can not be described as being illegals.
When was the last time a boat managed to reach land/port before being intercepted?