The Australian government has granted permanent visas to more than 21,500 companions and family members of asylum seekers who arrived by boat, new figures reveal.
This includes around 19,000 people who arrived before the implementation of Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) in 2013.
Under the reform introduced by the Albanese government in 2023, asylum seekers holding a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Entrepreneurial Visa (SHEV) can now apply for a permanent visa, which allows them access to social security and family reunification rights. These visas are issued under the Resolution of Status programme, which offers asylum seekers the opportunity for permanent residence.
From 13 February 2023 to 30 September 2024, a total of 21,581 permanent visas were granted to partners and family members of these asylum seekers.
The decision drew criticism from opposition figures. Senator James Paterson, the opposition spokesman for domestic affairs, condemned the move, arguing that it effectively “opened the door” to even more asylum seekers and could encourage the smuggling of illegal immigrants. “Labour not only allowed these people to stay, but also allowed their families to be brought in large numbers,” Paterson said, warning that this could encourage further arrivals by boat.
In response, a Home Office spokesman reiterated the government’s commitment to Operation Sovereign Borders, assuring that border protection policies would remain unchanged. The spokesperson stressed that people arriving irregularly or not fulfilling protection obligations would not be granted permanent protection to remain.
Meanwhile, Greens immigration spokesman David Shoebridge criticised the exclusion of around 5,000 people from the visa resolution process. He argued that the government’s approach leaves many asylum seekers in limbo and called for a fairer and more consistent path to permanent protection. Shoebridge highlighted the case of the Biloela family as an example of successful intervention and called on the government to provide similar opportunities for others.
