19th Mar 2015, 1:58 PM – Senate Migration Amendment (Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2014 - in Committee - Family protection visas

The majority voted in favour of keeping section 91WB unchanged.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young explained why the Greens wanted the section to be opposed (that is, they were voting 'No' in this vote as they wanted it changed):

This goes to the issue of family reunion. The Greens have for a long time been very concerned with the continuing trend under this government but also, admittedly, the previous government to make family reunion for asylum seekers and refugees in this country harder and harder.

She argued that this section are going to put children, particularly unaccompanied children, at greater risk.

What is section 91WB?

91WB Application for protection visa by member of same family unit

(1) This section applies to a non-citizen in Australia (the family applicant):

(a) who applies for a protection visa; and

(b) who is a member of the same family unit as a person (the family visa holder) who has been granted a protection visa.

(2) Despite anything else in this Act, the Minister must not grant the protection visa to the family applicant on the basis of a criterion mentioned in paragraph 36(2)(b) or (c) unless the family applicant applies for the protection visa before the family visa holder is granted a protection visa.