Visa-overstay crackdown could give domestic abusers new leverage, advocates warn

Domestic-violence advocates warn that new measures to penalise visa overstayers will strengthen the coercive tactics of abusers who already exploit migration rules, including threats of deportation and detention. Immigration Minister Tony Burke has suggested reinstating detention for overstayers, and the Coalition proposes restoring Home Affairs intelligence functions to identify them. Lawyers like Ann Emmanuel note that many clients discover they are unlawful because partners never applied for a visa or concealed rejections.

Survivor groups say existing protections are piecemeal, applying only after a specific visa application is made. Proposals for a three-year temporary visa that grants work, study and welfare rights have been put forward as a life-saving alternative, though the Coalition has not yet adopted such a scheme.