Coalition demands security vetting detail as 43 visitor visas granted to Palestinians

Labor is under pressure to explain why Australia cancelled 43 visitor visas granted to Palestinians fleeing Gaza after October 7, as the Coalition demands details of the security vetting process.

Labor is under pressure to explain why Australia cancelled 43 visitor visas granted to Palestinians fleeing Gaza after October 7, as the Coalition demands details of the security vetting process.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected what he described as “irresponsible” questions related to national security from the opposition during Question Time on Monday, but has continued to face calls to “come clean” about the visa process.

The Coalition has seized Department of Home Affairs data released last week confirming 43 visitor visas granted to Palestinians were cancelled between last October and July this year, of which 20 were reinstated on appeal.

It is understood none of the cancelled visas were for Palestinians already in Australia, with all those impacted still off shore when their paperwork was revoked.

Opposition immigration and citizenship spokesman Dan Tehan said the reasons for the visa cancellations was not clear given Labor’s claims of an appropriate vetting process.

Coalition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan says Labor must ‘come clean’ on visas. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Minister Burke must come clean with the Australian people and provide them with the facts,” he said.

“Any government that was serious about protecting the safety of its people would conduct a rigorous vetting process on all people coming to Australia from a war zone controlled by a terrorist organisation.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says it is ‘irresponsible’ of the Coalition to demand security details in Question Time. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Burke said the process for vetting the visas granted to Palestinians fleeing Gaza was “the same as it’s always been,” but the government continues to collect information on anyone granted entry to Australia.

“If at any point in time we’re presented with information that had grounds for visa cancellation, we would cancel.”

As of August 12 Australia has received 10,417 migration and temporary visa applications from people with Palestinian citizenship.

So far 2,922 have been granted, of these the majority were visitor tourist visas, with just 354 other types including 95 family visas, 74 skilled migration visas and 51 student visas.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the PM is being ‘duplicitous’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Anthony Albanese of being “duplicitous” about the visa process, demanding the Prime Minister correct the record for apparently misquoting ASIO boss Mike Burgess.

“You might leave out the sentence for the purposes of brevity or to make a point but you can’t leave out the middle of one sentence that you are quoting and pretend that that is an accurate reflection of what has been said by the person you are quoting,” he said.

“It is beyond tricky, it is duplicitous.”

Independent MP Zali Steggall has called Peter Dutton racist. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Meanwhile independent MP Zali Steggall said she did not regret calling Mr Dutton racist after his call for a stop on all visas for Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza.

She accused him of “bullying and intimidating people” who called out his policy and behaviour after he sought legal advice.

Mr Albanese refused to be drawn on whether Mr Dutton was racist.

“I think Peter Dutton is deeply divisive and that creates a risk,” he said.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud said the Coalition was “being condemned as racist because we dare ask questions about the validity of these people that have come here”.

“We have grave concerns that because of the way in which these were given approval, the appropriate questions were asked and the appropriate process was put in place so that that criteria was hit so that ASIO could then look at it,” he said.

“I want them to come here and be safe and enjoy the life we do, but we have got to make a judgment about keeping everybody safe.”