Tension in Canberra over Peter Dutton’s Gaza refugee call

A rare moment of tension has been seen in the halls of parliament as debate rages over the acceptance of refugees from Gaza.

Tension in Canberra over Peter Dutton’s call to pause refugee arrivals from Gaza has led to a moment rarely seen outside of parliamentary debate.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young voiced her frustration at Coalition Leader Mr Dutton’s controversial position on taking refugees from the war-stricken territory as she interrupted a press conference on Thursday.

Senator Hanson-Young walked straight through a stand up held by Nationals MP David Littleproud in the wings of Parliament House, making a pointed comment as she went.

“Why don’t you say something about the children being slaughtered?” she said, as reporters watched on and TV cameras rolled.

Before the exchange, Mr Littleproud had said Australia needed to show “leadership” on the issue and claimed Mr Dutton had “laid out a pathway more so than many of Palestine’s own neighbours would”.

Senator Hanson-Young had earlier told media Mr Dutton’s rhetoric was “Trumpian, it’s despicable and it needs to be called out”.

Sarah Hanson-Young makes her comment. Picture: ABC

Mr Littleproud didn’t respond. Picture: ABC

It comes after Mr Dutton said during a Sky News interview on Wednesday that he was concerned about screening process in place to prevent Hamas sympathisers gaining visas.

“If people are coming in from that war zone and we’re uncertain about their identity or allegiances — Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation,” he said.

“I don’t think people should be coming in from that war zone at all at the moment. It’s not prudent to do so and I think it puts our national security at risk.”

Mr Dutton doubled down in media interviews on Thursday, brushing off accusations the position was “racist” or “heartless”.

“We have to make decisions, and they can be tough decisions, but the decisions that are in our country’s best interests,” he told Nine’s Today show.

“I’m sure the vast majority are just innocent people fleeing a war zone, but our country is just safer when we have a proper process.

“If you bring in 100 people, let’s say 99 are good, if one person comes in (who supports Hamas), how is that in our country’s interests?”

He wants the government to use biometric tests, face-to-face interviews and ASIO assessments before granting any visas.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has shown no signs of relenting. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had on Wednesday dismissed the remarks as “off the cuff” and has claimed the screening processes in place were the same as under the former Coalition government.

“This bloke always seeks to divide,” Mr Albanese said.

“We take our advice from the director-general of ASIO and the security agencies. Not from someone always looking for a fight, always looking for division.”

In Question Time on Thursday the Prime Minister took aim at Mr Dutton’s decision to start this debate on the same day the nation’s Olympic team returned from Paris.

“I would have thought there is no moment more unifying in our nation than when we welcomed Olympians home yesterday morning,” he said.

“That was a chance for the Leader of the Opposition to practice that smile that we have heard so much about.

“And yet he chose this moment of all moments to be divisive, a moment meant to be about champions, he made about himself.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Dutton was seeking to divide. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

New data reported by the ABC this week shows almost two thirds of Palestinians seeking visas for Australia have been rejected.

Since the Hamas terror attack on October 7, just 2922 applications have been approved and 7111 have been refused by the federal government.

Meanwhile, more than 8700 visas were granted to Israelis, compared to 200 refusals.

In the House on Thursday Mr Dutton sought to suspend standing orders and questioned the scrutiny being placed on each visa application from Gaza.

Independent MP Zali Steggall responded to the motion saying Mr Dutton was painting refugees from Gaza as being “not worthy of humanitarian aid”.

“I am offended by the rhetoric from the leader of the opposition, the nature of this suspension of standing orders and the continued attempts to divide the Australian society around these lines and issues,” she said.

Ms Steggall later withdrew a comment telling Mr Dutton to “stop being racist” after a fiery exchange between the two.

The motion to suspend standing orders failed with Labor and crossbench voting against.