Emergency laws rushed through Federal Parliament last week allowing authorities to use ankle bracelets and curfews to monitor 93 people released from immigration detention are now subject to a High Court challenge, with lawyers for a Chinese refugee labelling them “arbitrary” and “punitive”.

The challenge was filed on Wednesday, with lawyers asking the High Court to strike out the new powers as they give authorities extreme measures they argue should only be exercised by judges.

The refugee at the centre of the case is referred to by the pseudonym S151. He has been required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his location and is subject to a curfew, meaning he has to stay at his home address between 10pm at night and 6am the following morning.

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