Record numbers of Gazans brought to Australia by Labor file fresh asylum claims

Figures tabled in the Senate reveal 166 Palestinians filed asylum claims allowing them to remain in Australia while their claims are processed in August alone.

Record numbers of Palestinians are filing asylum claims to stay in the country it can be revealed, just months after the government announced that 1300 Gazans granted visitor visas by the government had made it out of the Middle East to Australia.

According to figures tabled in the Senate Monday, 166 Palestinians filed asylum claims allowing them to remain in Australia while their claims are processed in August alone.

Only Chinese nationals filed more asylum claims, putting in 224 applications over the course of the month.

Since January, some 915 Palestinians have filed asylum claims.

While applicants’ previous visa status is not contained in the figures, the numbers suggest that as many as 70 per cent of those granted visitor visas by the Albanese government have now sought to stay as asylum seekers on visas that allow them work and study rights.

Palestinians celebrate their return after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP)

The Daily Telegraph understands that prior to the current war between Israel and Hamas, Palestinians had never been in the top 20 source countries for asylum seekers.

Controversy has dogged the program to bring Gazans to Australia on visitor visas, which are subject to less stringent checks than humanitarian visas.

Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic recently said the visitor visas were issued because they were “faster to process” because the government wanted to “get people out as quickly as you can.”

CANBERRA, Australia – NewsWire Photos – August 19, 2024: Industry and Science Minister, Ed Husic during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

However concerns about widespread popular support for Hamas within Gaza have led to concerns around national security.

In August, opposition leader Peter Dutton said, “I don’t think people should be coming in from that war zone at all at the moment. It’s not prudent to do so and I think it puts our national security at risk.”

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Dan Tehan said there were now 85,687 failed asylum seekers in Australia awaiting deportation, while just 19 left the country last month.

“Labor cannot be trusted when it comes to immigration or border security,” Mr Tehan said.

“Any competent government should have anticipated that people fleeing a terrorist-controlled war zone would seek asylum in Australia.”

“Labor has issued almost 3000 visitor visas to Palestinians but had no plan for what happens after they arrive in Australia.”

“Can the Prime Minister guarantee that all Palestinians who arrived on tourist visas and claimed asylum have been through the proper security checks?”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office has been approached for comment.