Deputy Marles Richard Marles tight-lipped on US request for Australian migrant crime data
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has dodged questions on whether a key Trump request came up during bilateral talks in Washington.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has refused to answer whether a key US request for Australia data on migrant crime was raised during bilateral talks in Washington.
Last month, Donald Trump ordered US embassies around the world - including in Canberra - to collect data “on migrant-related crimes and human rights abuses facilitated by people of a migration background.”
The purpose was to address what the US Department of State claims is the “existential threat” of mass migration, it wrote on a thread posted to X.
Mr Marles, who is meeting with his US counterparts as part of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), avoided answering whether migrant crime was on the agenda.
“I’m not going to go into all the details of the discussions because, you know, quite appropriately, a lot of that happens in a confidential space,” Mr Marles told the ABC.
“But we were focused on our security co-operation. I mean, that’s really where this meeting was at.”
Pressed on whether migration data had been discussed, Mr Marles again declined to share details.
“I’m trying to respect the processes with the US here, but our focus - in answer to your question - was very much about working together in terms of our security relationship, and that’s where the discussion was at,” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who also attended the AUSMIN talks, was asked about the data request in a press conference on Tuesday.
“I think I’ve been clear - probably from the American election campaign - that President Trump envisages a different role for America and the world, and that doesn’t come as a surprise,” she told reporters in Washington.
“In relation to Australia, we have a very clear position in terms of a non-discriminatory immigration policy, we have a very clear view about the importance and value of multiculturalism, and we will maintain that view.”
Pressed on whether Australia planned to meet the US government’s request, Senator Wong said the government would continue to advocate for the “multicultural, diverse society” that was one of “our greatest strengths in the world”.
“It’s a diplomatic strength,” she said.
Last week, the Trump administration released a National Security Strategy outlining US foreign policy would prioritise ending the “era of mass migration”.
It directly linked mass migration to straining of domestic resources, as well as increased violence and other crime.
Claims of this nature have fuelled anti-immigration rhetoric around the world, including in Australia.
Australia currently allows about 185,000 migrants into the country per year, including people arriving on skilled, family and humanitarian visas authorised by the government.
Domestically, the last parliamentary inquiry into migrant crime focused on youth crime in Victoria and was conducted in 2017.
Evidence submitted by the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency and Victoria Police both showed – for offences including homicide, serious assault, rape, aggravated burglary, motor vehicle theft, riot and affray – the vast majority of offenders were Australian-born.
Originally published as Deputy Marles Richard Marles tight-lipped on US request for Australian migrant crime data
