Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Sunday, June 15, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    • AUB Outdoors ☀️
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»Diaspora»Australia
    This Lebanese Lawyer In Australia Is Challenging Its Government's Travel Ban
    Tony Taouk | Bloomberg
    3 Mins Read

    Lebanese-Australian Lawyer Is Challenging Australia’s Travel Ban

    By Hussein YassineSeptember 15, 2020Updated:January 22, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    Since March 25th, Australia has been enforcing a prolonged and total travel ban that is considered to be the first of its nature in the country’s history.

    The international ban, often being described as draconian, has been met with much backlash, including by a Lebanese-Australian lawyer who is currently preparing a legal case against the Australian government.

    Tony Taouk, the son of Lebanese migrants from Bsharri, North Lebanon, has been a lawyer and notary public at Magna Carta Lawyers in Earlwood, Australia for over 10 years.

    Recently, he’s been researching a way to legally challenge the Australian Department of Heath’s travel ban, which has resulted in many people being stuck outside as well as inside the country.

    In Taouk’s eyes, the ban has “turned Australia into a large prison.”

    Speaking with The961, Tony Taouk pointed out that the Biosecurity Act 2015, on the basis of which the ban was imposed, does allow the Australian Health Minister to exercise orders for the purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in another country.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Matt Sue (@mattsue1031) on Jan 22, 2020 at 12:22pm PST

    However, “the actual and intended purpose is to slow the flow of citizens coming back into Australia later on,” the 39-year-old said, noting that the Health Minister has explicitly stated this on several occasions.

    In early September, the government extended the travel ban until December 17th, sparking more outrage from Australians.

    With many citizens complaining about the ban trapping them outside of as well as inside their country, “I think the pressure is mounting on the government,” Taouk said.

    Countless Australians are stuck overseas due to the travel ban
    Reuters

    “The travel ban is particularly outrageous when you consider that 30% of Australians were born abroad. This is compared to 12% of Americans and 14% of UK citizens.”

    It’s worth noting that unlike the US, Australia has no Bill of Rights, which makes its constitution unhelpful for Taouk’s proceeding against the government, because there is no Australian law that enshrines freedom of movement.

    Nonetheless, the lawyer believes he has “a reasonable chance” to succeed in his lawsuit but points out that he must rely on administrative law.

    “I think the government just panicked and overreacted when it imposed the travel ban and is now afraid of taking its foot off the brakes.”

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Sydney Food|Travel|Biz (@ramvespa) on Jan 26, 2020 at 5:07am PST

    With that said, Taouk stressed that Australia’s Health Minister is clearly overreaching in imposing the outward travel ban since “delegated legislation must be made for the purpose set out in the empowering Act and not for any other purpose or motive.”

    In that, Tony Taouk sheds light on his role as a legal professional to catch flaws in the government’s performance and take action to correct them.

    “History has shown that governments have a tendency to abuse their power in times of national crisis. It is our responsibility as lawyers to keep them in check.”

    Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    massad boulos

    Massad Boulos Was Just Appointed By Trump As Senior Advisor for Middle Eastern Affairs

    donald trump 961

    Donald Trump Just Won The US Presidential Elections

    Donate to Lebanese Charities

    You Can Now Donate to Lebanese Charities Without Any Fees At All – Here’s How

    us presidency

    Who Do Lebanese Want to Win the US Presidency? We Asked, Here Are the Results

    Ottawa Wants To Be Granted Title Of “Shawarma Capital Of Canada”

    NYC

    LAU Is Opening A Campus In New York City

    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025

    Ampere Cinema Reopens Its Doors In North Lebanon After 28 Years Of Absence

    June 30, 2022
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The World

    December 31, 2024
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For Lebanon

    December 31, 2024
    visa whish money partnership

    Visa and Whish Money Just Partnered To Push Digital Payments in Lebanon and Abroad

    May 6, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Okay