00:00It wasn't the result the Government wanted. The law had given the Minister power to order
00:07individuals released from indefinite immigration detention to wear an electronic bracelet and
00:14live under a curfew. It was introduced after it emerged the group included convicted murderers
00:20and rapists, some of whom re-offended. After the ruling, the Opposition urged the Government
00:26to say what it will do now. So far 224 people have been released from indefinite immigration
00:42detention because there is no prospect of them being removed from Australia. 150 of
00:49those were ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and 130 were subject to a curfew.
00:56But today the Court found the measures amount to punishment, which under the Constitution
01:01can only be dished out by the courts. The Government must act immediately to abide by
01:07the ruling of the High Court, which found that those conditions were unlawful and unconstitutional.
01:14The Government says it's prepared and the Immigration Minister has already signed off
01:19on a new regulation to allow the continued use of electronic monitoring devices and curfews.
01:26In addition to that I'll be introducing some legislation to Parliament tomorrow. That new
01:31legislation will back up what's in the regulation and the new laws will also increase the Government's
01:38powers. Tony Burke's also promising more resources
01:41and stronger powers to remove people to a third country. But the Government's High Court
01:47woes aren't over yet, with more challenges linked to last year's decision ahead, including
01:54two as early as next week.
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