Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. I refer to an email from the Duty Inspector, Command Centre, Strategic Border Command in relation to the French au pair, stating in relation to the ministerial intervention submission:

The ABF does not agree with the content, or think it appropriate that the Minister intervene …

Why is this the sort of instance where the minister rushes to intervene?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question and I will come to it in a minute, but if I may, I want to acknowledge Stephanie—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on both sides will cease interjecting.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I met Stephanie last night and I presented her with her award. I met Scott. It was an incredible moment. You moved many people at the event last night. It really is unimaginable, as both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have pointed out, but your true inner strength and the way in which you responded is a great credit to you. The recall of the story and your contribution to those gathered last night, I think it is true to say, left a very lasting impression on everybody in that audience. I too join in congratulating you. Thank you.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

In relation to the honourable member's question I have said to this House—and outside of this House before—that I look at each case on its merit. The honourable member made his own judgement in relation to a case that he presented to me, asking me to consider the matter. He was rallying for a convicted murderer, for somebody who had a very long criminal history. He was saying to me that he would like to see a better outcome for that individual. We can go to the member for Watson, who was advocating for a hate preacher. I can point out different members opposite who have come to me over a long period of time, asking me to act. I'll tell you what I've done. I've cancelled 3,700 visas of criminals in this country—people who would have gone on to commit offences against Australians.

Mr Brian Mitchell interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lyons is warned.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have cancelled the visas of 194 outlaw motorcycle gang members—people who are involved in the distribution of drugs to young people—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat.

Mr Hunt interjecting—

The Minister for Health will cease interjecting. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask him to be directly relevant.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just before I call the Minister, he—

Mr Buchholz interjecting—

The member for Wright is warned. Just before I call the minister back to the dispatch box, the minister is obviously speaking on the policy topic. He's entitled to some context, but his entire answer can't be context. He will need to bring himself to the specifics of the question.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was asked about a particular case. I said I dealt with the case on its merit. That's it. And I do so on many cases. Something's being made of the fact that I dealt with this case within a matter of hours. I've dealt with many cases in a matter of hours.

Mr Neumann interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Blair has asked his question.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Kids who are sick, where the department has advised me that somebody should be deported because their tourist visa or their visa had come to an end, a grandparent who's been ripped off, a person who wanted to go overseas for a funeral—I have looked at each of those cases on their merit, and I've made decisions based on the merit of each case. I am very happy to have my record compared to the records of some of those opposite who were involved in the immigration portfolio in the great years of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd period of government in this country. I will have my record compared to any of theirs any day of the week.