Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer. I ask the minister to ensure that the government will provide to Mr Ahmed the reasons for the rejection of his visa application. I understand that he has been deemed a risk, indirectly or directly, to the security of this nation as per section 4 of the ASIO Act, which defines security as: protecting people from espionage, sabotage, politically motivated violence, attacks on Australia’s defence system, the promotion of communal violence and acts of foreign interference. I think Australians and people around the world want to know exactly which of these criteria Mr Ahmed meets in terms of ASIO’s assessment of him. Given other countries have allowed this man to go to their countries to promote a movie, why is Australia standing in his way?