Detention centre bill expected to pass Senate
NEW laws that were being rushed through parliament to ensure the Federal Government can keep funding Australia's offshore detention centre network are expected to pass the Senate tonight.
The laws were rushed through the House with Labor's support on Wednesday, after a High Court case filed by asylum seeker advocates challenged the funding arrangements.
That case was based on similar grounds to the recent successful High Court school chaplains' case, but the Government wanted to head off the challenge by changing the law.
A Greens amendment to note the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture found the conditions at Nauru amounted to torture and trauma, was successful.
But despite opposition from the minor party to the bill, and the existence of concerns over it within the Labor Party, the Opposition was expected to support the Government's changes in a vote late on Thursday.
