November 24, 2023
Anthony Albanese denies granting visas to hundreds of Palestinians fleeing Gaza poses a security risk to Australians, after the opposition warned against rushing character checks.
The government has approved visitor visas for more than 850 people living in Gaza and 1700 to Israelis following terror group Hamas' October 7 attack that killed 1200 people and resulted in about 240 taken hostage.
Israeli reprisal strikes in Gaza have killed thousands of people, officials in the Hamas-governed territory say.
Hundreds of students in Melbourne skipped classes yesterday to attend a pro-Palestine rally in the CBD, ignoring politicians' pleas to stay in school.
Sydney students will rally today.
"We have been contacted by students from dozens of schools across Melbourne and Victoria who are walking out to demand justice for Palestine," a 16-year-old rally organiser who gave her name as Ivy told AAP.
Senior frontbencher Bill Shorten's electorate office in Melbourne was vandalised yesterday, with red paint splashed on the walls and graffiti which read "dial down the apartheid Bill".
Mr Shorten said the attack was probably a response to his earlier comments to protesters to "dial down the degree of aggro".
"I don't know why people think that carrying on and escalating aggro in this country helps people in the Middle East, or indeed helps the case you're trying to make in Australia, it just turns people off," Mr Shorten said.
The flood of visa approvals allows people who fear being caught up in the conflict to make Australia a temporary safe haven.
However, they have been approved to come on standard visitor visas, which run for between three and 12 months, rather than any special humanitarian visa, and do not include a direct pathway to permanent residency. Visa holders do not enjoy work rights or access to welfare such as Medicare.
Most of the visa holders have a close connection to Australia, such as a parent or child living here.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson questioned how such a large number of visas had been granted in a very short period of time, adding he hoped pressure had not been put on the Home Affairs Department or ASIO.
"We have to remember, obviously, this is a part of the world in which the Australian government is not on the ground," he said.
"So I am seeking reassurance from the government that all the normal checks and processes were followed and that no corners were cut in the granting of these visas, and particularly the security assessments which often do take quite a significant amount of time, were carried out on this cohort before they come to Australia.
"Duncan Lewis, the former directorgeneral of ASIO, testified before Senate estimates in 2019 that the security assessments that you have to undertake for cohorts like this can take months at a time. So, to grant more than 800 visas in just six weeks would be an extraordinary level of efficiency."
Mr Albanese said checks were being carried out. "We have an appropriate visa system and security system in place. It's the same that has been in place for some time," he said.
While a ceasefire and hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas has been delayed, Mr Albanese said steps towards a ceasefire were welcome. "We've seen too much life being lost. We mourn every Palestinian and every Israeli who is innocent, who's been a victim here," he said.
