Why Australia’s new visa proposals are worrying Iranians on the North Shore

For many in the local Persian community on the North Shore, the recent actions of the Albanese government have elicited mixed feelings. 

While protection provided to the women’s national football team has been a cause for celebration, at the same time thousands of valid visa holders will be turned away from the Australian border under proposed new laws.

Ali Elliin, a member of Hornsby’s Aknoon Cultural Centre, expressed concern over the proposed laws. 

“In wartime, we expect the government to support the Iranian people, not make limitations for the arrival of people”, he told the Lorikeet.

“I was surprised when I heard that the government [planned] to approve this... and the Coalition was going to support it”.

What happened: Prior to their match against South Korea in the Women's AFC Asian Cup, several members of the Iranian women’s football team stood silent while the national anthem played. Following this, Iranian state media labelled the players “traitors”.

• Over the weekend, assistant foreign affairs minister Matt Thistlethwaite said there would be “no special circumstances” for Iranian footballers seeking asylum.

• This stance drew criticism from local Berowra MP Julian Leeser, whose electorate is home to many Iranian-Australians. 

• Leeser claimed that, given “serious threats” made toward the players via state media, they should be granted asylum in Australia. 

• On Monday, Home Affairs minister Tony Burke announced that five of the players had been granted asylum. 

• The same day, the Albanese government moved a bill through the lower house, proposing amendments to the Migration Act. 

The proposal: The changes put forward would allow the Home Affairs Minister to temporarily ban certain classes of temporary visa holders from entering Australia if authorities suspected they may overstay their visa. 

Put it simply: Under the proposed laws, non-citizens who have already been issued a visa can be blocked from entry. 

• Julian Hill, Labor’s Assistant Minister for Citizenship introduced the bill to parliament. He said the bill was necessary because the “current situation in the Middle East” meant temporary visa holders arriving in Australia could end up staying after their visa ends.
  

• Essentially, the bill targets groups of people who the government thinks would be willing to overstay their visa in order to avoid returning to a country in the middle of a war.
  

• Previously, the government could only deny these visas by individually assessing whether there was a risk the holder would overstay.

In practice, these new laws mean valid visa holders — those travelling for work, holidays, or to study — could be turned away en masse if the government believes a global conflict might influence them to overstay their visa.

Not so easy: For Iranians looking to visit their family, work or study in Australia, obtaining a temporary visa is already a difficult process. 

“It's getting harder and harder for Iranians to get visas, even for the families [of Australian citizens]”, Siamak Ghahremman, CEO of the Australian-Iranian Community Organisation told the Lorikeet.

Ethan Vatandoost, a local bushcarer, also told the Lorikeet about the difficult process of visa applications. He is currently in the process of applying for a partner visa for his wife in Iran. He said that the lack of an Iranian embassy has made this process even harder.

What is being said? Warringah MP Zali Steggall has spoken strongly against the bill, claiming it is “targeted at Iranians”, “racist policy” and “deeply Trumpian”.

• “If you’re a high profile person and a minister from the government can get a photo opportunity, then we will show some leniency … everybody else, we’re shutting the gate,” said Steggal.

Julian Hill said the bill is necessary to ensure “Australia's migration system works in Australia's national interest”.

Berowra MP Julian Leeser voted alongside his Coalition colleagues in support of the bill. 

The Asylum Seekers Centre — a not-for-profit organisation which advocates for the rights of asylum seekers — has also raised concerns, claiming the bill infringes on the rights of ordinary people fleeing persecution and war. 

For North Shore local, Ali Elliin, concern was mostly surrounding the bill’s larger political implications. 

“I don't think it's only for Iranians, it’s for everybody”, he said. “It can expand it to Ukrainians, or others”.

Thumbnail: Nikolas Gannon