March 27, 2024
A fiery Senate inquiry has heard 73 detainees of the 152 released following the NZYQ High Court case are roaming the community without wearing an ankle monitor.
The Senate Estimates Committee was hearing from Home Affairs and Border Force officials on Wednesday when the focus turned to the detainees.
Michael Thomas from the Department of Home Affairs told the committee 79 of the detainees were given ankle bracelets on their visas, while 73 were without.
Senator Paterson asked Home Affairs Department officials for the breakdown of crimes committed by those 73 released detainees who were not subject to monitoring devices.
Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram repeatedly failed to hand over the information, arguing that there was a risk of possible identification and that they didn’t yet have the full information.
“When you ask a series of questions about murderers, sex offenders, violent offenders, without ankle bracelets in the community. We took that on notice and we are endeavouring to get that information,” Mr Outram said.
The shadow home affairs minister then unleashed on the department officials and Minister Murray Watt, and claimed it looked like they were “obfuscating” in the committee which sparked a heated exchange between the ministers.
“I don’t think it’s fair of Senator Paterson to be accusing public servants of obfuscating, or looking like obfuscating,” Senator Watt said.
Senator Paterson hit back: “Well that is what it looks like, Minister. That is my view, that’s what it looks like.”
“That is the narrative you would like to create, I recognise that. You had an answer from Mr Outram saying that the very questions you are seeking for have been taken on notice and that he and his team are working through providing those answers,” Senator Watt replied.
Senator Paterson remained frustrated over the lack of answers and said he couldn’t “make it any easier” for officials to “come prepared”, however Senator Watt maintained they could not provide the answers.
The Liberal Senator then pushed the envelope further when he suggested there was an “apparent attempt to cover up and protect the government’s interests”.
Senator Watt immediately took offence, firing back: “You are making an outrageous suggestion that public servants are involved in a cover up to protect the government’s interests.”
The fiery clash comes after a chaotic day for the Home Affairs department with Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles failing to provide an answer as to why they attempted to rush a deportation bill through Parliament on Tuesday.
After the Department of Home Affairs failed to provide answers as to why the legislation was rushed, the deportation bill was subsequently blocked and referred to a longer Senate inquiry following a Greens motion which was supported by the Coalition and crossbench.
Ms O’Neil also endured a busy Question Time in Parliament on Wednesday, taking seven questions from Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley over claims the minister made the secretary of her department leave her office "in tears" after a discussion about immigration detainee documents in February.
