David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

This is absolutely shameful—the conduct of the Albanese government. The people who have been released into the community are the worst of the worst—murderers, rapists and paedophiles, released into the community. The ministers in the Albanese government knew in June that there was a strong chance this would happen. So what did they do in June? What did they do in July? What did they do in August? What did they do in September? What did they do in October? What did they do for the first two weeks of November? Nothing. They knew that this was probably coming for months and months and months, and did nothing. Let's just pause and reflect on that, because that is what this government has done.

The minister for immigration knew there was a strong chance this would happen. The Minister for Home Affairs knew there was a strong chance that this would happen. The Prime Minister, presumably, was advised that there was a strong chance that this would happen. What action did the Albanese government take, during those 5½ months, to protect the Australian community and ensure that preventive orders were put in place to stop these people from being released into the community? Nothing.

The government can't say this is the High Court's fault. The High Court has its role, and it will do what it will do. Governments, ultimately, are responsible for the safety of the Australian people. Here, we've got ministers who knew for months that 80 or 90—and we learned today it could be hundreds of people—of the most serious criminals in this nation were going to be released as a consequence of this High Court decision. What did they do? Nothing. Who's responsible for the situation we face today? It's the Albanese government.

We saw, in the West Australian, a couple of days ago, the reality of the release of these people into the community. There's talk of conditions and so on, but what did the West Australian find? They are coming and going as they please on the streets of Perth with no supervision. They have the capacity to go out there and do, frankly, whatever they want to do. These ministers come into parliament and say that there are conditions and say that they're taking steps, but the West Australian found absolutely the opposite. We also know, from the reporting by the ABC that numerous people were released into the community without visas at all. Poor old Minister Giles, the minister for immigration—we need to extend the definition of the word 'hapless' for that individual, because what we have seen in this chamber in the last few days has just been shocking, and I think it will be remembered for years and years to come. He has refused to provide clarity to this parliament, despite saying that he would, about the precise nature of the individuals that have been released into the community.

We see them come in today with the Migration Amendment (Bridging Visa Conditions) Bill 2023. A few days ago they were saying, 'Look, there's nothing else that we can do,' despite having had six months to think about it. A couple of days later, they're saying, 'Well, there is something we can do, so we're to going bring something in.' But the bill they bring into parliament is weak and ineffectual and goes nowhere near far enough.

Australians need to know this government had five months, at least, to prepare for this. This government didn't do that. They can't get around that; it's on the public record. The High Court of course will make decisions, as courts do, but governments are here to lead. Governments are here to protect the safety of the Australian community. They've shamefully failed to do that, and they must be condemned.

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