Indigeneity not always equal to citizenship

Indigenous non-citizens at risk of deportation will be able to stay in Australia, ending the former Coalition government’s attempt to overturn the High Court ruling of Love and Thoms.

However, despite this landmark precedent arguing that Aboriginality is equivalent to citizenship, it does little to affect a person’s statutory citizenship status.

This means that although Indigenous non-citizens cannot be deported, without a valid visa they are unable to work and support themselves.

Image: Image: Shutterstock: Bennography

Produced By: Cindy Yin

Featured In Story: Mary Crock, Professor of Public Law, University of Sydney and Co-Director of the Sydney Centre for International Law

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 7 September 2022