Dutton erupts over ‘pipeline of criminals’ after criminals released from immigration detention

Peter Dutton has revealed a “pipeline” of more than 340 criminals and immigration detainees could be released into the community.

Peter Dutton has revealed a “pipeline” of more than 340 criminals and immigration detainees could be released into the community under the High Court decision that indefinite incarceration was unlawful.

Speaking in Parliament, the Liberal leader said departmental officials had confirmed the number of 84 detainees released will increase.

“These are people who have murdered Australians. These are people who have raped young children,’’ he said. “These are people who are of the worst character. And they are not citizens.

“One person killed a pregnant woman, and then blew up her body with military grade explosives.

“Now, I think the Australian public is rightly outraged at a government that sees fit to let that person back out into the community. The Australian public didn’t vote for that.”

Mr Dutton again rounded on Anthony Albanese for leaving the country for another overseas visit for talks with US President Joe Biden.

“The Prime Minister has not been here to deal with this matter,’’ he said. “This government has had months and months to deal with this issue.

“Overnight, this morning, was he at the briefing? No. He’s on his plane to another overseas destination.”

Mr Dutton said at the briefing he learned there were more detainees who may be released.

“I’ll tell you what else we found out during the course of the meeting this morning. Not only do we have 84 people now out in the community with the prospect of more being released imminently.

Peter Dutton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We’re now talking about a pipeline of 340 people. And the likelihood of them reoffending is very, very high.”

Radical move as child rapists, killers released

This comes after it was revealed electronic ankle monitors and strict curfews will be slapped on murderers and child rapists released from immigration detention by the High Court.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil announced the changes at 7am confirming the Albanese Government will rush the legislation through before Christmas.

It follows 24 hours of confusion over whether tougher conditions would be introduced and the government’s refusal to reveal what the changes would involve.

“Today our government will introduce tough new laws into our parliament that will give the Commonwealth the power to put in place very strict visa conditions, conditions that will help us ensure that the community is kept safe during this time,’’ Ms O’Neil said during a snap press conference.

“These new conditions are very significant. They include the ability of the Commonwealth to impose ankle monitoring bracelets on people who have been released from detention. They include the power to impose curfews.

“For the first time, there are criminal sanctions imposed for the breaking of visa conditions and there are jail terms attached to them to the end of that.

“So, for the people who are released from detention, we did not want to let these people out of detention, but we have a simple message for them. We will set the strictest possible conditions for you. If you do not follow them you will end up back in jail.”

The minister did not take questions and the press conference was alerted to the media with two minutes’ notice by the Prime Minister’s office.

Overnight, the Immigration Minister Andrew Giles released a statement warning the rushed new laws may need to be updated after the High Court reveals written reasons for the decision.

Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton has accused the government of being “missing in action” over the issue and failing to have legislation ready to go if the High Court rules against the government.

“The parliament this week should not rise until the government comes forward with legislation, we will sit down with the government, we will sit additional hours through the night — whatever it takes to get these people back into custody,” he said on Wednesday morning.

A paedophile who raped a 10-year-old boy, a hitman who blew up a pregnant woman with explosives and a sex predator who attacked elderly women are among the foreign criminals released into the community following a landmark High Court decision.

The court ruled last week that it is unconstitutional to indefinitely detain criminals who can’t be deported to their home countries.

The Albanese Government, which fought the ruling, remained under fire over the fallout in parliament on Tuesday.

Amid calls to cancel his latest overseas trip to deal with the issue, reports emerged that some of the former detainees were initially released without a visa.

A paedophile who raped a 10-year-old boy, a hit man who blew up a pregnant woman with explosives and a sex predator who attacked elderly women are among the criminals released into the community following a High Court decision that the continued detention was unlawful.

The issue again dominated question time on Wednesday amid reports that some of the criminals released had been briefly declared “unlawful non-citizens” and released into the community without a visa.

“It turns out that this Minister has released these dangerous criminals into the community without a visa,’’ Liberal leader Peter Dutton said.

“How does this Prime Minister respond? He goes off overseas again. Prime Minister, don’t leave this country until you have dealt with these issues.

“Don’t hop on the plane again to the United States, you just met with President Biden, an incredibly important relationship, but you have just met with the President. The first responsibility for you, Prime Minister, is to be here.”

The Government confirmed on Wednesday that the number of detainees released had now increased from 81 to 83.

But Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was slammed as “evasive” and “tricky” as he repeatedly insisted all the former detainees were now on bridging visas.

“I can confirm that all of those individuals required to be released as a result of the decision of the High Court are on bridging visas with appropriate conditions,’’ Mr Giles said.

He did not detail whether they were initially released as unlawful citizens without a visa.

In parliament, Mr Dutton said the Prime Minister has one of the most serious responsibilities in this country.

“This Prime Minister has gone missing,’’ he said.