Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. During question time yesterday, the Prime Minister stated that people applying for visas from the terrorist-controlled Gaza war zone were undergoing ASIO security assessments. Will the Prime Minister now confirm that this is not accurate?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll refer to what the ASIO director-general himself has said:

If they've been issued a visa, they've gone through the process … they're referred to my organisation and ASIO does its thing.

As—

It's a direct quote.

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

Order! The Prime Minister—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a direct quote from Insiders on 11 August.

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

The Prime Minister will pause.

The member for Fisher will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a). We're not having this today. There's been far too much disorder in the chamber through the week. If it continues, there will be a general warning issued.

The member for Fisher then left the chamber.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was a direct quote from Mr Burgess on the Insiders program. He went on to say:

For all immigration, including when you're balancing humanitarian needs, security checks are critically important. There are processes in place and I can assure your audience that, when things get referred to ASIO, we deal with them effectively.

That's what he said, but he has said more than that.

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question. I'm calling for order in the chamber. I want to listen carefully to make sure the Prime Minister is being directly relevant.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the press conference that was held with me he also said:

After the 7th of October, I warned that inflamed language could lead to inflamed community tensions. Unfortunately this is what's playing out.

…   …   …

This is really a matter for everyone—community leaders, politicians, the media. Watch your words, watch your actions … there is a direct correlation between inflamed language, inflamed tension, and violence …

I would have thought there was no moment more unifying in our nation than when we welcomed Olympians home yesterday morning. It was a chance for the Leader of the Opposition to practise that smile that we've heard so much about, and yet he chose this moment, of all moments, to be divisive. He made a moment meant to be about champions about himself. The scarf stayed on, but the mask came off. He sows fear and he sows division. That's what he does. That's what he's done his entire political career, and that's what he continues to do.