Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Given the minister's previous answer to my question, will he give an undertaking that at the conclusion of any assessment this convicted jihadi terrorist will be deported?

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to 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.