Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is not my first speech. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Minister, how many of the more than 2,000 visas granted to Palestinian document holders following 7 October have since been cancelled, and how many of those cancelled have now been reinstated?

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

Thank you for the question, Senator Sharma. I think it might be your first question in this chamber. The issue that you've asked about is something that I addressed in some media comments this morning as well. The government's practices as to the cancellation of these visas have been on the record. As we have made clear repeatedly, this government is following exactly the same process as the former government in the granting of visas and the consideration of visa applications and has applied exactly the same security tests to those applications as has occurred previously, including under the former government.

Decisions were made to award visas to some applicants, not all, and those decisions were based on information that was available at the time those decisions were made. Further information, in some cases, came to light, and, on the basis of that information, the security advice was that some visas should be cancelled, and that action was taken. Then, as time progressed, additional information came to light which required the reinstitution, if you like, of some of those visas that had been cancelled. That is ordinary practice for any government of any political persuasion—to make visa decisions based on information that is available and that is based on security advice from security agencies. And of course—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Watt. Senator Paterson?

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order on direct relevance. Senator Sharma's question was very direct, very factual. It just asked for a series of numbers. The minister has not yet provided them in one minute and 30 seconds. If he doesn't have them, he should take them on notice and provide them afterwards.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Paterson. I will remind the minister of the question.

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

As I was saying, the way that the government has approached this issue is exactly the same as it was approached under the former government.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Paterson?

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Cyber Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance. The minister is now openly defying your ruling to return to the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To be fair, Senator Paterson, the minister had just got to his feet, but he is aware that I have redirected him to the question.

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

What I was attempting to say was that of course the way the government is approaching this is to ensure that the Australian community's safety is foremost in the decision-making process.

The opposition has asked about numbers, and what I can say is that, when Mr Dutton was the Minister for Home Affairs, he granted more than 500 visas each week to Syrians fleeing the country in 2015.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Paterson, I suspect you are jumping on a point of order. Unfortunately, the time has expired. Senator Sharma, first supplementary?

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Multiple media outlets last week reported that a number of individuals leaving Gaza had their Australian visas cancelled while en route to Australia. Last night the ABC reported that some of these decisions are now being reversed, with additional security and other checks conducted by the Department of Home Affairs now complete. Minister, what additional checks did the Department of Home Affairs conduct that led to the cancellation and subsequent reinstatement of these visas?

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

Senator Sharma, I would expect that, as an experienced member of parliament and a former diplomat, you would know that governments do not provide that level of detail about security advice that they receive. Simply being a member of the opposition doesn't automatically entitle you to ask those sorts of questions or get that sort of information. You would surely know that governments don't provide that kind of security information. What I can also say is that the Department of Home Affairs routinely cancels visas. That department has done so under this government. They did so under the former government. They have done so from time immemorial. That's because all noncitizens who wish to enter or remain in Australia must satisfy the requirements of the Migration Act, and all noncitizens are required to meet health, character and security criteria. They're required to undergo security checks and are subject to ongoing security assessments. That is the practice under this government, as it was under the former government.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Senator Sharma, second supplementary?

Dave Sharma (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 28 February, when asked by the opposition to confirm whether adequate security checks were conducted on all of the individuals from Gaza who were granted visas, Minister, you assured us they were and went on to chastise the opposition for attempting to 'whip up fear'. Minister, is it still your evidence that all necessary security checks were conducted on all of the individuals from Gaza before they were granted visas?

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

Senator Sharma, I have to say I am quite disappointed in you, because we were led to believe that you were someone who, as a former diplomat, respected diplomatic practices in this country, respected security agencies, but now you are taking your orders from certain other people as to how this issue should be approached.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Watt, I remind you to direct your answers to the chair.

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

Thank you, President. As Senator Sharma and the entire opposition well know, all visa applicants are required to undergo security checks. This government, just like the former government, has followed the advice of the security agencies in making its decisions. We have followed that advice in deciding in some cases to grant visas, in other cases to refuse applications, in other cases to cancel visas and in other cases to reinstate those visas as that advice is changed based on the information provided. Some members of the opposition might laugh about that, but this government take the security of the Australian people seriously and we will continue to do so. It would appear that others don't. (Time expired)