Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement for one minute.

Leave is granted for one minute.

I am aware of the reports of the treatment of Mr Zainullah Naseri by the Taliban. Mr Naseri is a Hazara, who arrived in Australia by boat and spent time in detention before being granted a bridging visa. He was deported after his application for refugee status was rejected. It has been reported that he was abducted by the Taliban while travelling from Kabul to his home district of Jaghori. His kidnappers are reported to have tortured him for two days before he seized an opportunity to escape. This is an extremely distressing story and it is proper that the immigration minister has ordered an investigation. Labor urges the minister not only to ensure that the investigation is conducted in a comprehensive and timely manner but that the findings are made public. We are also concerned that he has made statements that may appear to prejudice the results of the investigation. The minister has been reported as saying— (Time expired)