to issue a visa under section 417 of the Migration Act. The Commission has raised concerns that the section 417 Ministerial discretion is not an adequate mechanism to protect people from refoulement (that is, return to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened). In particular, the Minister's discretionary power is non-compellable and the Minister's decisions are not reviewable. The Minister is also not obliged to give reasons for his or her decisions. The Commission has recommended that the Australian Government adopt a legislated system of complementary protection to implement Australia's non-refoulement obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , the Convention against Torture , and the Convention on the Rights of the Child . In September 2009 the Australian Government introduced the Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2009 (Cth) into Parliament. While the Commission welcomed the Bill, it expressed some concerns about the scope of protection proposed by the Bill and recommended a number of amendments. The Commission welcomed the introduction into Parliament of an amended version of the Bill, the Migration Amendment (Complementary Protection) Bill 2011 (Cth), in February 2011. While the Commission still had some concerns about the scope of protection proposed, the Commission expressed the view that the adoption of the Bill would be a positive first step in establishing a legislated complementary protection regime. The Commission welcomed the passage of the Bill in September 2011 and looks forward to it receiving Royal Assent, after which the new system of complementary