Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Hansard source

Labor's failures on community safety have reached an unacceptable level. The release of over 150 criminals into the community last year is a glaring example of this negligence. Among those released were child sex offenders and murderers—individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety. This situation arose because the government was unprepared for a High Court decision and did not have the necessary legislation ready to address the problem. The fallout from this lack of preparedness has been severe. At least 30 of these released criminals have subsequently been charged with new offences. This pattern of reoffending highlights the government's failure to protect the community's safety.

Recent developments have brought to life further issues within the system, dozens of non-citizen criminals have had their visa cancellations overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This group includes some of the most dangerous offenders, such as child rapists, repeat domestic violence perpetrators and drug traffickers. The root of this problem lies in a government decision known as direction 99. This policy decision undermines efforts to maintain public safety. The implications of these decisions are profound and troubling. This raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current policies and this government's commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens. The consequences of these actions are already being felt, with continued criminal activities and new offences been committed.

In light of these issues, there is an urgent need for a thorough review and overhaul of the policies and practices that have led to these outcomes. This government has repeatedly demonstrated an alarming lack of accountability, choosing instead to shift blame onto others for its significant and dangerous errors. When 152 criminal noncitizens were irresponsibly released into the community, the government hastily pointed fingers at the High Court's decision. This blatant deflection of responsibility reveals a deep-seated unwillingness to acknowledge and address its critical role in this failure. By refusing to accept accountability, Labor has shown a disturbing disregard for the safety and wellbeing of Australian citizens.

In another shocking incident, a grandmother was allegedly assaulted in her own home by a detainee that had been released by this very government. Instead of owning up to this mistake, the Prime Minister criticised his own government appointed panel, which had determined that the alleged perpetrator did not need to wear an ankle monitor. He further deflected the blame onto Commonwealth prosecutors for not opposing bail for the detainee earlier in the year. This persistent blame-shifting is not just a failure of leadership but a direct betrayal of the government's duty to protect its citizens.

The government's pattern of evasion is further evidenced by its handling of a noncitizen charged with murder who was allowed to remain in the country due to ministerial direction. Instead of addressing the clear flaws in this directive, the Prime Minister disgracefully blamed the Administrative Appeals Tribunal judge for the decision. Similarly, when rapist noncitizens were permitted to stay in Australia under the same ministerial direction, the government shamelessly pointed fingers at the department, once again avoiding any direct responsibility for the policy. This repeated failure to take responsibility is not just negligent; it dangerously undermines the integrity of Australia's immigration and judicial system.

Keeping Australians safe is the foremost responsibility of the government. When the Leader of the Opposition was Minister for Home Affairs, he embodied this commitment by cancelling more than 6,300 visas of dangerous noncitizen criminals. In stark contrast, Labor has demonstrated an alarming inability to make the necessary decisions to protect our communities. If Labor invested as much time in focusing on keeping Australians safe as they do in criticising the Leader of the Opposition, we wouldn't be in this current mess. Their misplaced priorities have contributed significantly to the ongoing safety issues faced by the community. The Australian people won't forget the real reason behind this debate. The minister for immigration signed direction 99 and then failed to follow through on its implementation. This gross negligence has had severe consequences, and those responsible for such an oversight should not retain their positions.

The coalition agreed to intervene and fix the mess created by Labor, as we have consistently done in the past. We are committed to restoring trust and delivering the security and stability that every Australian deserves.

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