Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Hansard source

I can advise the honourable member that the assessment has yet to commence. But I make it very clear that every person who is considered for the granting of a permanent visa is subject to a character test. If the person fails this test, their visa can be refused. Security assessments are also, of course, a routine part of the protection visa application process, so it would be a part of any assessment of this individual. Individuals who are assessed by ASIO to be directly or indirectly a risk to national security are issued with an adverse security assessment. As a matter of policy, the government has determined that individuals with adverse security assessments should remain in detention rather than live in the community.

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