Peter Dutton accused of misleading Parliament over au pairs saga

EMBATTLED Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has been accused of misleading Parliament over the ongoing au pairs visa saga.

PETER Dutton’s nanny saga continues with claims the Home Affairs Minister misled Parliament over the issue.

Shadow immigration minister Shayne Neumann said Mr Dutton had insisted he had no personal connection to the employers of au pairs who he had intervened to assist with visa issues.

It emerged yesterday that one of the three foreign nannies detained by immigration authorities at Australian airports, who Mr Dutton stepped in to grant a visa to, was hired by a former police colleague and friend.

“When asked in Parliament to rule out any personal connection or any other relationship himself and the intended employer of either of the au pairs, Peter Dutton (said): ‘The answer is yes. I haven’t received any personal benefit. I don’t know these people,’” Mr Neumann said.

“If Peter Dutton knows the intended employer of one of these au pairs, Peter Dutton has clearly misled Parliament.”

Labor and the Greens have accused Peter Dutton of misleading parliament. Picture: AFP

Mr Neumann called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to “step in and clean up his minister’s mess”. Mr Morrison said today he was comfortable with Mr Dutton’s explanations.

“This entire situation stinks and it’s time Peter Dutton comes clean immediately,” Mr Neumann said.
Green MP Adam Bandt also accused Mr Dutton of misleading Parliament over his use of ministerial discretion powers.

“Given reports suggesting he has a personal connection with the employer of an au pair, he urgently needs to explain himself. If he can’t, he has no business being a minister,” Mr Bandt said.

Alexandra Deuwel is one of three au pairs who avoided deportation after Peter Dutton intervened in their cases.

Mr Dutton saved the Italian au pair from deportation in 2015 after a request was made with his office.

According to media reports, she was planning to work for a former Queensland police colleague.

“I wouldn’t have spoken to that individual in 20 years and I didn’t speak to him in relation to this matter. He raised it with my office,” the minister said.

However, this professional connection appears to contradict what Mr Dutton told Parliament earlier this year.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan lobbied Home Affairs Peter Dutton to help prevent the deportation of French au pair Alexandra Deuwel.

Another nanny helped by Mr Dutton’s intervention was French national Alexandra Deuwel, after lobbying by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan on behalf of his cousin.

Secret emails obtained by news.com.au yesterday showed he acted against the advice of Border Force officials, who insisted the 27-year-old woman should be sent home.

A spokesperson for Mr Dutton said he “100 per cent” stood behind his statements to the Parliament.

“Mr Dutton is confident, to the best of his knowledge, he has never met Callum MacLachlan nor has he socialised, met with or had contact with Russell Keag in almost 20 years,” the spokesperson said.

“He hasn’t spoken with either individual regarding these matters before or since these matters were first raised.”

Deuwel was arrested and had her visa cancelled by Border Force officers at Adelaide airport on October 31, 2015, after admitting she intended to work in breach of her tourist visa.

She admitted she’d perform babysitting duties for Adelaide-based farmer Callum MacLachlan, who is AFL boss Gill McLachlan’s second cousin, in exchange for free accommodation and food.

The AFL boss then lobbied the minister’s office on behalf of his relatives, urging Mr Dutton to let her stay and overturn the visa cancellation.

Callum’s father Hugh is a generous donor to the Liberal Party, having made about $150,000 in donations since 1999.

Peter Dutton is under mounting pressure over his involvement in the au pairs saga. Picture: AAP

McLachlan broke his silence this morning in a radio interview, rejecting suggestions that he acted inappropriately or misused his power.

“It was a Sunday, I got a call from my cousin … I said, just send me an email and I’ll ask someone to get it to the right people to consider,” he told 3AW.

“I get asked to help people all the time. I was asked to facilitate a contact and that’s what I did.”

— with AAP

Originally published as Peter Dutton accused of misleading Parliament over au pairs saga