Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Again, I can tell Senator Paterson—I can repeat the comments that Mr Burgess has made—anyone who fails character tests and fails to the security vetting by ASIO, doesn't get a visa in the first place, and should further information come to light, their visas are cancelled. As I said, we have repeatedly seen the opposition try to make this issue into a political football and break down social cohesion. Mr Burgess, the Director-General of Security with ASIO, has appealed to members of parliament to take a responsible attitude towards this, but the opposition continues to ignore that advice from Mr Burgess.