April 29, 2024
A former immigration detainee released under the controversial NZYQ ruling has been arrested in Perth alongside two others for an alleged violent home robbery of an elderly couple which left one of the senior citizens with severe facial bruising.
About 150 people were set free after the high court ruling last year found indefinite immigration detention illegal for those with no real prospect of deportation from Australia in the foreseeable future.
Among that cohort were seven murderers, 37 sex offenders and 72 violent offenders.
Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan, a 43-year-old man who was released in this ruling, is one of the three men accused of attacking Ninette and Phillips Simons at their home in Perth’s Northern Suburbs.
Mr Doukoshkan and the other two allegedly pretended to be police officers and claimed to have a warrant to search the home for stolen goods.
Phillip, 76, claimed he was shoved to the ground and had his hands bound behind his back while his wife Ninette, a 73-year-old woman who’s a recent cancer survivor, was allegedly punch in the face many times and lost consciousness.
Police alleged the men fled the home with $200,000 worth of jewellery and other items.
Mr Doukoshkan has been charged with aggravated home burglary, robbery, impersonating a police officer, assault and detaining a person.
Liberal Senator James Paterson and Shadow Minister for Immigration Dan Tehan have called on Labor Immigration Minister Andrew Giles and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil to explain how this could happen under a system they put in place.
“If they cannot do this then they should do the honourable thing and resign,” the Liberal frontbenchers wrote in a shared statement.
Speaking with Sky News Australia shortly after, Senator Paterson said the government needed to "step up".
"Where is the Minister for Home Affairs where is the Minister for Immigration what is their explanation for why their community protection scheme has failed and failed so miserably when they had the power to stop this," the shadow home affairs minister said.
"The Minister for Immigration and the Minister for Home Affairs ... should be standing up today and explaining and if they fail to explain they should resign or should be sacked by the Prime Minister."
Western Australia Liberal Leader Libby Mettam echoed the point of her Liberal counterparts, calling this instance a failure of the state and federal Labor governments.
“The Prime Minister owes this family and broader community an apology," she said.
"What we have seen here was not without warning. Questions were raised in parliament last year to the premier who abdicated responsibility."
NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said the incident exposed the government as "unqualified" on immigration matters.
"Once again, the Albanese Labor government has been exposed as unqualified and incompetent when it comes to taking care of our borders and keeping Australians safe," Senator Hughes told SkyNews.com.au
"Things just keep going from bad to worse in every portfolio since Labor came to power, but this government keeps on saying 'nothing to see here'.
"We’ve got dangerous criminals in the community and we’ve barely heard a peep from the minister, let alone anyone else in the government."
An Australia Border Force spokesperson said the Department of Home Affairs is aware of the situation and will work with its partners in the next steps.
"The Department of Home Affairs is aware that an individual who holds a Bridging Visa R was arrested by WA Police Force on 28 April 2024,” the spokesperson said.
“The safety and security of the community remains the absolute priority for the Australian Border Force and Department of Home Affairs, and we will continue to work closely with our state and territory partners.
“As the matter relates to a police investigation, which is now before the courts, it would not be appropriate to provide any further detail.”
