Madeline Gleeson questions necessity of proposed visa legislation on ABC The World Today

Madeline Gleeson spoke with ABC's The World Today regarding an announcement that the government plans to ban asylum seekers who travelled to Australia by boat after July 2013 – and who were transferred to Manus Island or Nauru – from ever travelling to Australia again. It is anticipated that the legislation will be introduced to Parliament next month, and that the ban will include those refugees who have been transferred to Cambodia under the 2014 relocation agreement between that country and Australia. Those asylum seekers or refugees who were under the age of 18 when they were taken to Manus or Nauru will reportedly be exempt from the ban. 

As Madeline states, 'We've heard for a long time now that there are third countries being considered. And when I say a long time, I mean four years. That's how long it's taken [and] we are still yet to hear of a third country where everyone will be able to go. So I would like to stop hearing about what Australia is going to do to become more and more closed, and start hearing some actual answers about where people are going to go, and when, and on what terms.'

Listen to the full interview here.