And while it is good the immigration compliance function has been returned to the immigration area of Home Affairs, and funding somewhat restored after being run down under Pezzullo, there is not nearly enough compliance funding to significantly increase removal of unsuccessful asylum seekers.
In other words, despite the $160 million package, the number of asylum seekers in Australia is unlikely to fall by much, if at all.
The Dutton opposition will play this for all its worth even though the situation is a direct result of Dutton’s negligence when he was minister.
If immigration must stay in Home Affairs, here’s how to fix the agency. By Abul Rizvi, P&I