Section 4AA — Migration Act 1958 (Cth)

Detention of minors a last resort

(1) The Parliament affirms as a principle that a minor shall only be detained as a measure of last resort.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the reference to a minor being detained does not include a reference to a minor residing at a place in accordance with a residence determination.

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

Related sections

s 3A — Act not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth power
s 3B — Compensation for acquisition of property
s 4 — Object of Act
s 4A — Application of the Criminal Code
s 5 — Interpretation
s 5AAA — Non‑citizen’s responsibility in relation to protection claims

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