Dr Natalie Hodgson submits evidence to the House of Commons regarding the Nationality and Borders Bill

HRLC member Dr Natalie Hodgson recently submitted evidence to the House of Commons regarding the Nationality and Borders Bill. The UK is considering following the "Australia model" of border policing aiming to 'deter illegal entry (…) breaking the business model of people smuggling networks and protecting the lives of those they endanger.'

Natalie argued that Australia's system of offshore detention and boat turnbacks increased the risk of harm to asylum seekers, who were exposed to physical and psychological harm (as documented by UNHCR and Médecins Sans Frontières), which infringes their human rights. Asylum seekers themselves described offshore detention as a form of "torture".

Further, boat turnbacks put them at risk: any policy that prolongs the time that asylum seekers spend in the water will increase the risk of danger.

Finally, Natalie argued that Australia's policies were also associated with financial and reputational costs and questioned how the UK could hold other states accountable for human rights abuses if it implemented policies that infringe the human rights of asylum seekers.

She concluded that the best way to prevent asylum seekers undertaking dangerous boat voyages is to increase the opportunities for asylum seekers to travel to the UK safely through recognised routes.