July 30, 2024
Newly minted Immigration and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is plunging directly into his contentious portfolio, travelling to Indonesia on Monday in preparation for a high-level meeting on counter-terrorism and transnational security.
“I will be attending the 10th Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council on Law and Security (MCM) and co-chairing the 5th Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Security in Bali,” Mr Burke said.
“This will include meetings with Indonesia’s Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto.
“Indonesia is one of our most important bilateral partners, including on civil maritime security, people smuggling and countering violent extremism.
“The MCM is the home affairs portfolio’s key bilateral engagement with Indonesia.
“It is the primary forum to consult and set priorities on law enforcement, civil maritime security, and counter-terrorism and transnational crime co-operation.”
The trip to Indonesia, which comes immediately after Governor-General Sam Mostyn swore him in to take charge of the conflict-prone portfolios, signifies the central role Indonesia plays in Australia’s broader security arrangements.
The massive nation of some 270 million people serves as a launch pad for illegal boat arrivals into Australian waters.
Mr Burke replaced Clare O’Neil, the former home affairs minister, and Andrew Giles, the former immigration minister, in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Sunday reshuffle.
Ms O’Neil and Mr Giles confronted months of criticism after a series of failures in their portfolios, including the NZYQ High Court decision that forced the release of immigration detainees, some of whom went on to allegedly commit crimes against Australians.
Three illegal boats have also reached the Australian mainland since 2022.
Mr Albanese has expressed confidence that Mr Burke would “certainly be up to” to task of managing the portfolio charged with Australia’s border security and, in part, its security.
“What it means, in terms of a department, there will be one person who will be responsible for it,” Mr Albanese said on Sunday.
“One minister, and then two junior assistants to them, is I think the right structure.”
Mr Burke will be supported in his role by Kingsford Smith MP Matt Thistlethwaite and Bruce MP Julian Hill.
Liberal senator James Paterson said the reshuffle constituted an “admission of failure” from the government on border security and referred to Mr Burke as a “failed immigration minister” during the Rudd-Gillard years.
“Australians know what an absolute wreckage it was under that (Rudd-Gillard) government and they’re heading down that pathway again,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
“This is how it started last time. They undid the successful policies of the previous government.
“The boats started coming again and lo and behold, detention centres had to be reopened.
“Children were put into detention. It was an utter disaster.
“And putting Tony Burke back anywhere near that portfolio would be a shocking signal to people smugglers.”
On Tuesday, Mr Albanese slammed the Coalition as a “cheer squad for people smugglers”.
“Tony Burke is someone who has been successful in everything he has done and undertaken,” he said.
“He already has hit the ground running, he’s there in Indonesia.
“And the only people who are a cheer squad for people smugglers are some of the Coalition members who consistently try to talk Australia down.”
