Opposition Demands More Information on Screening Process for Gaza Immigrants

The Gaza immigrant issue continues to dominate Parliament, with both the Liberal and Labor parties accusing each other of politicising national security.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton started Question Time demanding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese clarify the government’s handling of visa applicants from the Gaza war zone.

Dutton sought specific answers on which applicants undergo ASIO security assessments and the criteria for these evaluations.

He also questioned how many of the nearly 3,000 visas granted so far were without such assessments, raising concerns about whether there was proper screening.

Dutton demanded that no other business be addressed until the prime minister provided a detailed response.

The prime minister responded saying the government had received 7,000 visa applications, of which around 1,300 people have come here from the occupied Palestinian territories.

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“I remind the member that the Rafah border crossing is controlled by the Israeli and Egyptian authorities,” he said.

In a pointed response, the prime minister also said the opposition had been silent on the issue for three months.

“That border crossing closed in May. Did they say anything about it in May? In June, in July, or at the beginning of August? Not a peep from the member for Page, who’s so passionate about this issue that he’s now had multiple questions.”

The opposition also accused Albanese of misquoting ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess during an interview with the public broadcaster.

He said the prime minister had altered the original meaning of Burgess’s statements, and that led the House to believe all visa applicants from Gaza had undergone ASIO assessments.

Burke Criticises Dutton’s Push for Release of Details

Speaking earlier in the day, Home Minister Tony Burke accused the Leader of the Opposition of undermining national security by pushing for the public release of confidential information related to ASIO’s security criteria for handling Gaza immigrants.

“All the security assessments are a matter of confidentiality, and Dutton, who has served in key portfolios including defense, home affairs, and immigration, is aware of this norm,” Burke said.

He further stated that information is shared confidentially with the Leader of the Opposition as part of protocol.

“We do share confidential briefings with the opposition, but sharing this with the public, on the floor of the House of Representatives, is highly irresponsible, and he knows it.”

The prime minister meanwhile said the opposition leader had mishandled classified information.

“The Guardian in February 2022 reported that Liberal Senator James Patterson had rebuked Defense Minister Peter Dutton for referencing classified material during a heated national security debate. Further back, in January 2020, the ABC reported that the office of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was suspected of leaking classified information about the costs of medically evacuating refugees to Taiwan,” Albanese said.