Poor response to letter from Acting Minister Tudge

"I’ve just received this response from Acting Minister Tudge, which completely avoids the issue. My request was that he should use his ministerial powers to intervene in this case on humanitarian grounds.  He has not answered the question!" M.

Dear Mr G....

Thank you for your correspondence of 23 November 2020 to the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs,
the Hon Alan Tudge MP. The Hon Alan Tudge MP appreciates the time you have taken to bring this matter to his attention and has asked that I reply on his behalf.

Thank you for your letter of support for the Udawatta family.

In accordance with the Privacy Act 1988, it would be inappropriate to provide you with any further details about the status of this matter.

I can assure you that Australia takes its international obligations seriously and provides protection consistent with these obligations, as set out in the Migration Act 1958.

An assessment of whether an asylum seeker engages Australia’s protection obligations is not based on broad assumptions about the safety of particular countries. Each case is assessed on its merits, using the most current and relevant country of origin information.

Information regarding Ministerial Intervention can be found on the Department of Home Affairs’ website via the following links:

 https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/status-resolution-service/ministerial- intervention; and

 https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/refugee-and-humanitarian- program/onshore-protection/protection-visa-cancelled.

4 National Circuit Barton ACT 2600
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Ref No: MC20-038467

Thank you for bringing your concerns to the Hon Alan Tudge MP’s attention.

Yours sincerely 

(an indeciperable signature)

Director

Humanitarian Contracts Management Section Humanitarian Program Capability Branch
7 December 2020