Andrew Giles was too busy selling Voice in London to hear about criminal detainees

Embattled Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was too busy promoting the Voice referendum to attend meetings about the potential release of murderers and sex offenders from immigration detention.

The Coalition has accused Immigration Minister Andrew Giles of being too busy promoting the Voice referendum to attend meetings about the potential release of murderers and sex offenders from immigration detention.
Labor’s handling of the detainee saga has been further criticised following revelations Mr Giles did not attend three meetings about the NZYQ High Court case in the lead up to the November ruling that prompted the release of 149 immigration detainees, including seven murderers, 37 sex offenders and 72 violent criminals.

Senate Estimates heard Home Affairs counsel met with Mr Giles’ staff on August 8, September 14 and October 12 last year with the minister not present.

Social media posts show in October Mr Giles was in London filming a video promoting the Voice to Parliament referendum.

On the day of the September meeting where staff discussed the implications of a potential High Court loss, Mr Giles was pictured at Voice event in Canberra.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles promoting the Voice to Parliament in London.

Asked in Question Time why he had not attended the meetings, Mr Giles said his “number one priority has been doing everything … to keep the community safe”.

“That continues to be my commitment,” he said.

But Coalition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said Mr Giles appeared “happy to go out to attend a Voice rally yet doesn’t prioritise meeting legal counsel to talk about a case that led to 149 detainees being released from detention including murderers, sex offenders, and violent criminal”.

The Opposition continued its attack on the reasons behind the decision to not require 36 individuals wear an electronic ankle bracelet, suggesting it would not be possible to locate former detainees without one.

Mr Giles said all 149 individuals were being “continuously monitored” and a government spokeswoman later provided a statement clarifying the whereabouts of the cohort.

“Because of the government’s strict visa conditions, including reporting requirements and electronic monitoring, the location of all 149 individuals is known,” she said

Amid the growing political stoush, Opposition leader Peter Dutton told his colleagues to prepare for a 2024 federal election at a Coalition party room meeting on Tuesday.

“Get campaign ready and get your message out,” he said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton slammed Andrew Giles, labelling him “incompetent”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton called Mr Giles “incompetent” and suggested he was “not across his brief”.

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said Australians were being harmed because the Albanese Government had not applied for a preventative detention order under laws rushed through parliament just before Christmas.

“It’s been two months now and not a single application has been made,” he said.

“It’s simply not good enough.

Mr Giles hit back at the Coalition, accusing Mr Paterson of being misleading about the threshold a preventative detention order request had to meet.

“We are working around the clock to ensure that applications are made as soon as possible, and critically, that applications are successful, not half bakes,” he said.