House debates Questions without Notice
Immigration Detention
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
2:01 pm
My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. When the minister was asked on Thursday by Sky's Kieran Gilbert why two murderers released from immigration detention were not being electronically monitored, the minister responded that he was 'using drones to keep track of these people'—'We know where they are.' What was the basis of the advice that led to this latest example of gross incompetence?
Andrew Giles Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
I thank the shadow minister for his question. Over the last week, I have cancelled 30 visas in the national interest. By the end of this week, we will have in place a new, revised, ministerial direction. And, as the shadow minister said last week in an interview on Sky News, I did state that Operation AEGIS was using drones. I relied on information provided by my department at the time, which has since—
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Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Andrew Giles Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
which has since been clarified.
Opposition members interjecting—
Andrew Giles Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
As part of the work, monitoring and supporting community safety, Operation AEGIS—
Andrew Giles Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
draws on information from a range of sources, using different technologies, including aerial open-source and other imagery, through their work with state and territory law-enforcement bodies.
Now, our strong laws impose strict visa conditions on everyone in the NZYQ cohort who were released following the High Court decision. This can include electronic monitoring, curfews, financial reporting, spot checks and random home visits, as well as other mandatory conditions which mean the location of every individual is known. As the government has consistently said, community safety is our No. 1 priority, and we will always act to keep Australians safe.