Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party for her question. I say again that the decision of the High Court, which required their release, affects some very serious offenders, including people who have committed the offences you've described: sex offenders and at least one murderer. I believe there are three murderers and several sex offenders. I will provide her with the precise details of those who fall into those three categories of offending. I do note that the shadow minister here and the shadow minister for home affairs have reached out for a briefing, which, I understand, is in the process of being arranged. I say again that the Commonwealth resisted the application brought by the individual who is the subject of these proceedings. We resisted those applications for exactly the reasons that I think animate the concerns of the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and the concerns of every member in this place. Our focus throughout—in anticipation of the decision and since—is on ensuring the safety of the Australian community. That includes looking at all options we have to ensure safety.

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