Dutton intervened to stop au pair deportation after AFL boss request

HOME Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is facing demands to reveal why he personally intervened to save a French au pair from deportation at the ­request of AFL boss Gillon ­McLachlan.

HOME Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is facing demands to reveal why he personally intervened to save a French au pair from deportation at the ­request of AFL boss Gillon ­McLachlan.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal Mr Dutton used his ministerial discretionary powers to grant then 27-year-old Alexandra Deuwel her tourist visa after she was detained on arrival at Adelaide Airport in October 2015 because of suspicions she intended to work.

Ms Deuwel had previously worked as a live-in babysitter for Mr McLachlan’s relatives, Callum and Skye MacLachlan (spelt differently), who run a farm in South Australia’s Barossa Valley.

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Peter Dutton released French au pair Alexandra Deuwel after lobbying from AFL boss Gillon McLachlan. Source: Facebook

It is understood the AFL chief — also a nephew of former Defence minister Ian McLachlan — lobbied Mr Dutton’s office on his relatives’ behalf for her to remain in the country.

Documents show Mr Dutton was warned there were “clear indications” Ms Deuwel was “intending to work in Australia and thus, the grant of a visitor visa is of high risk”.

Mr Dutton granted her a tourist visa on public interest grounds within 24 hours of her arrival on the condition she must not “engage in work” — which, according to sources, she later did.

The Home Affairs Minister has broad powers to seek advice on and intervene in visa decisions.

Mr Dutton said on Tuesday he receives hundreds of representations on individual migration matters from members of the public, organisations, journalists and other MPs.

“There are longstanding intervention powers provided to ministers to consider and deal with these representations,” Mr Dutton said.

Federal Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton intervened to stop the deportation of a French au pair. Picture: AAP

“These powers were the same under the former Labor government.

“I consider cases on their merits. Any suggestions cases are determined on any other basis, including whether I knew the individual who ­referred the matter, is completely ridiculous.”

Labor and the Greens have already established an inquiry into “allegations concerning the inappropriate exercise of ministerial powers with ­respect to the visa status of au pairs” following allegations Mr Dutton had intervened in other similar cases during his time in the portfolio.

It is understood AFL boss Gillon McLachlan lobbied Mr Dutton’s office on his cousin’s behalf for the au pair to remain in the country. Picture: Luke Bowden

The committee is expected to report back to the Senate by September 11.

Opposition immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said Mr Dutton had “serious questions to answer about the use of his ministerial powers”.

“Labor expects the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison to ensure his minister fully ­co-operates with the Senate ­Inquiry,” he said.

It is understood Ms Deuwel left Australia in early 2016 and has not returned.

The AFL said it would not comment. The Herald Sun has tried to contact Ms Deuwel and Callum MacLachlan.

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