Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. The Courier Mail has just reported that Queensland police have arrested a fifth criminal released by the minister into the Australian community. The individual has reportedly been arrested in connection with an outstanding return to prison warrant after being released by the minister without any checks being carried out. Can the minister confirm that this person should not have been released into the community?

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

I thank the shadow minister for his question.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Barker is warned.

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

As the opposition, and indeed the shadow minister, are well aware, I can't comment on individual cases. In fact, as the opposition leader himself has said:

… I'm not going to comment on individual cases because … I will have been a decision maker … if the matters go to the Court again, I don't want to interfere or taint that process.

I will also say this: on 10 November we, as a government, set up Operation AEGIS, a joint taskforce between the AFP and the ABF working closely with state and territory police forces to share information and enforce visa conditions, steps which have been enhanced by the legislation which passed the parliament late last night. This work of course continues.