Immigration detainees still being released months after High Court’s bombshell ruling

Immigration detainees are still being released into the community six months on from the bombshell High Court ruling.

Another seven former detainees were freed on bridging visas in May, taking the total number to 160, according to the Commonwealth community protection board’s latest monthly figures.

Only 85 of those individuals are required to wear GPS monitoring devices, while 77 are subject to a curfew.

A total of 24 must alert authorities to transactions of $10,000 or more, while 16 are required to notify them of debts of $10,000 or more.

The board was set up late last year to provide advice on monitoring the former detainees.

It faced criticism – including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – after revelations it advised GPS tracking was not needed for Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan before his alleged involvement in the bashing of Perth grandmother Ninette Simons.

Earlier this month Home Affairs officials revealed at least two convicted murderers and 26 people previously charged with sex offences were not being electronically monitored.

At the time, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles insisted the Government couldn’t use GPS tracking on all of the ex-detainees “because the law doesn’t allow it”.

The latest monthly report, published on Friday, showed the board met just once in May despite the public scrutiny surrounding its deliberations.

The Federal Government was forced to immediately release 92 people from immigration detention last November, including convicted murderers and rapists, after the High Court ruled indefinite detention was unlawful.

Dozens more detainees with similar circumstances to the Rohingya man who brought the High Court challenge – known only as NZYQ – have subsequently been released into the community.