‘Imply that all Gazans are terrorists’: Bill Shorten’s shock Dutton claim

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have erupted into a fiery debate over claims people fleeing Gaza shouldn’t be allowed into Australia.

Bill Shorten has claimed Peter Dutton is implying all Gazans are terrorists in a fiery debate after the Opposition Leader declared Palestinians fleeing Gaza shouldn’t be allowed into Australia.

Mr Dutton demanded all visa applications from Gaza be refused amid claims people fleeing the war could pose a threat to Australia’s national security.

Coalition MPs wrote to Tony Burke on Tuesday, calling on the newly appointed Home Affairs Minister to tighten visa vetting for applicants from Gaza to ensure they held no rhetorical support for Palestinian militant group Hamas.

But Mr Dutton went a step further, telling Sky News no one from Gaza should be entering Australia right now.

“I don’t think people should be coming in through that war zone at all at the moment,” he said.

“It puts our national security at risk.”

Bill Shorten has claimed Peter Dutton is implying all Gazans are terrorists. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Mr Shorten said the government was following visa procedures. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton claimed the Albanese government had brought in people from a war zone without doing face-to-face interviews in some cases.

“The government hasn’t even done face-to-face interviews. They brought people in on tourist visas like if you’re coming from New Zealand or from the UK, it’s without precedent,” Mr Dutton said on Today on Friday morning.

However, Mr Shorten said the government was following procedures, with 1300 people brought in from the war torn area while 7100 have been rejected.

“No one, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, gets to this country without being checked against the movement watch list and being vetted,” the NDIS Minister said.

“If Peter thinks that one of the 1300 people here is a security risk, he should come forward with his evidence.

“Don’t sit on information — it’s OK to use the sort of spooky music and say, imply that all Gazans are terrorists, which is what you’re effectively doing.”

Mr Shorten added he was sure plenty of people in Gaza supported Hamas, but not everyone from there was a “bad person”.

“Look, I’m a middle-of-the-road sort of person. Please don’t insult the intelligence of Aussies and say that everyone from that area is a bad person,” he said.

Mr Shorten later told Mr Dutton to “put up or shut up” if he believes any of the 1300 people from Gaza is a “bad person”.

“Pete, if you think one of these 1300 is a bad person, put up or shut up,” he said.

“Put up or shut up mate – (if) one of the 1300’s a bad person, tell us, please, we’ll take action.”

“Well, you wouldn’t know Bill,” Mr Dutton replied before the exchange was moved along.