Labor’s deportation bill fails to pass Senate in ‘almighty backfire’ as Coalition and Greens team up

Opposition says bill needs ‘proper inquiry’ to guard against possible ‘unintended consequences’ despite earlier voting with Albanese government in House of Representatives

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Labor’s controversial deportation bill will not pass the Senate on Wednesday, after the Coalition and Greens teamed up to delay it for at least six weeks for a further inquiry.

In what independent senator David Pocock labelled an “almighty backfire” for Labor, the Albanese government failed to win bipartisan support for a bill threatening non-citizens with prison if they don’t cooperate with their deportation.