Home Affairs concerned at failure to securely identify almost 1000 asylum seekers in detention

An international search has failed to uncover biometric matches for about 500 boat people still on Manus Island and Nauru. Almost all 1000 offshore detainees present ‘some level of concern’ when it comes to securing their true identities.

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An international search has failed to uncover biometric matches for about 500 boat people still on Manus Island and Nauru, making it difficult to confirm their identities.

Home Affairs is working with international partners to complete identity and security screenings.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s popularity has taken a hit. Picture: AAP

However, internal advice states the department expects to have “some level of concern” over the identity of nearly all of the 1000 refugees and asylum seekers who remain offshore.

It comes as Labor suffered a fall in popularity after the bitter battles over border protection. An Ipsos poll yesterday showed support for the Coalition was up 3 per cent, though Labor is still narrowly ahead 51 to 49 per cent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is still preferred by voters to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten — 48 to 38 per cent.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that one in six of the 372 boat people to so far undergo security checks have been red flagged after new Labor-backed laws on medical transfers passed parliament last week. Of those one in six about 30 have had an adverse finding while authorities hold concerns over the actions of another 30.

The government fears Immigration Minister David Coleman would be powerless to block the transfer of those with adverse findings, which includes individuals involved in people smuggling and who have interacted on social media with terrorist-linked groups.

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Immigration Minister David Coleman during Question Time last week. Picture: AAP

Even a Pakistani man found in possession of child pornography could not be banned from entering Australia under the new scheme as he had no criminal conviction.

It follows revelations in The Telegraph last week that the government was concerned two men on Manus Island would be eligible for transfer despite the pair awaiting court appearances over allegations of child sexual assault.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said checks had not been carried out sooner because “it was never intended that any of those people would enter Australia”.

“We are looking into the hundreds of people that we consider likely to apply and we already have significant red flags on these types of character issues over dozens of them,” he told the ABC.

Crossbench MP Kerryn Phelps introduced the Medevac Bill. Picture: AAP

He said that under the Kerryn Phelps-inspired scheme the minister only had the power to block someone on character grounds if the government could “positively verify” the individual had been sentenced to 12 months or more behind bars.

“(That) is not always an easy thing when you’re trying to track back criminal records in places like Iran and Iraq for over 10 years,” Mr Porter said.

“It was previously the case that the minister could prevent the entry into Australia of someone that our intelligence agencies reasonably suspect of serious criminality … If they’d been charged, we could prevent their entry.

“If they’d been arrested, were awaiting a trial, we could prevent their entry. We can now no longer do that.”

Mr Morrison has recorded a video message aimed directly at people smugglers considering coming to Australia by sea.

The two-minute video is expected to be translated into 15 languages and aired in 10 countries considered asylum-seeker hot spots.

“Make no mistake, if you attempt to come to Australia illegally by boat, you will not succeed,” the PM says. “So do not waste your money or risk your life, or anyone else’s life, for nothing.”