Hand was the immigration minister who, in 1992, introduced the controversial policy of
mandatory detention for illegal arrivals and asylum seekers. I believe it is crucial that all persons who come to Australia without prior authorisation not be released into the community. Their release would undermine the Government's strategy for determining their refugee claims or entry claims. Indeed, I believe it is vital to Australia that this be prevented as far as possible. The Government is determined that a clear signal be sent that migration to Australia may not be achieved by simply arriving in this country and expecting to be allowed into the community. After retiring from politics in 1993, Hand represented Australia before the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees and a round table discussion on refugees organised by the Government of
Thailand. He was also a member of the Immigration Detention Advisory Group, providing advice to the
minister for immigration and citizenship on the services, accommodation and amenities at the immigration detention centres. In 1995, the deputy leader of the government in the Senate, Senator Robert Ray, suggested Hand as a possible replacement to Barry Jones as president of the ALP, but this suggestion never eventuated. ==References==