High court orders removal of ankle bracelets and end to curfews for 43 detainees

Australia’s high court has ordered ankle bracelets removed and curfews scrapped for dozens of former immigration detainees, finding laws aimed at the NZYQ cohort unconstitutional. Those subject to electronic monitoring and curfew will instead be required to report regularly to officials, and the government can no longer impose curfews.

The ruling affects 43 people with ankle bracelets in the community. The challenge was brought by a Papua New Guinea citizen identified in court as EGH19. He arrived in 2000, was convicted of murder in 2006 as a minor, was offered a protection visa in 2022 that was later cancelled after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence offences, and was released on parole in December 2024 before being placed in immigration detention in April 2025 and required to wear an ankle bracelet and obey a curfew.

Chief Justice Stephen Gageler and a majority of the seven justices concluded the laws amended in November 2024 were inconsistent with the constitution and therefore invalid.

Papua New Guinea

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