November 28, 2023
Freed immigrant out of contact
A released immigration detainee who refused a mandatory electronic tracker was uncontactable to police and at large in the community as Labor refused to reveal any details about the case.
In the latest saga of the High Court headache that has caught the federal government off guard, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram on Monday revealed the uncontactable detainee had been referred to the Australian Federal Police.
There are also questions over Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil's initial claims to have received operational advice indicating the government would win the case and be able to keep the non-citizens detained.
Emails instead show Labor was desperately trying get the US State Department to resettle the Rohingya child sex offender, known as NZYQ, in order to prevent his case setting a broader precedent.
This prompted Ms O'Neil to later say her department had been "preparing for the loss for some time".
The government committed to mandatory electronic monitoring of the released detainees, but already four of the 141 noncitizens released since the November 8 ruling have refused.
They are now under AFP investigation, with one not able to be contacted by authorities when Mr Outram addressed the media at 9am on Monday.
Eleven hours after Mr Outram said authorities were "still making attempts" to contact the detainee, Labor and law enforcement agencies refused to confirm if those efforts were successful.
Mr Outram said the four who had refused ankle monitors were "lower risk".
Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the uncontactable detainee "appears to have absconded".
"The serious risk this poses to the community is utterly unacceptable and continues Labor's shambolic response to the High Court decision," he said.
No information about the detainee, their suspected whereabouts, criminal history or description would be provided when questions were put to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles.
The minister's office did not answer and referred the questions to the ABF and AFP.
An ABF spokesperson said the four individuals subject to "noncompliance" with the mandatory electronic monitoring had been referred to the AFP for "appropriate action".
"For those not fitted with an electronic surveillance device, the ABF and AFP will work with the states and territories to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect community safety," they said.
The AFP declined to comment.
In another twist in the case, the Coalition joined forces with the Greens late on Monday to vote against criminalising the emergency controls imposed on the released detainees earlier this month.
