‘Stop being racist’: Row erupts in parliament over Dutton’s stance on Gaza visas

A fiery racism row erupted in federal parliament after independent MP Zali Steggall told Peter Dutton to “stop being racist” and dividing the country when the opposition leader continued to accuse Labor of making the country less safe by admitting migrants from Gaza.

Dutton dismissed Steggall as a “Green with extreme views”, but hours later he was hammered in question time by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who gave his strongest rebuke yet of Dutton by accusing him of “20 years of form” in making divisive remarks about Lebanese and African migrants to Australia.

Zali Steggall accused Peter Dutton of “being racist” and dividing the country, which the opposition leader said were unparliamentary remarks.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The opposition leader has faced a backlash over his call on Wednesday to reject Palestinians fleeing war-torn Gaza as potential threats to national security. On Thursday morning, Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson clarified that the opposition was calling for a temporary pause on visa applications from Gaza, until it was satisfied there could be proper security checks.

As the issue dominated parliament for a second day, Labor insisted the government and ASIO were following the same processes that occurred under the former Coalition government, and accused the opposition of undermining national security agencies.

But opposition MPs say the situation is different and have taken particular issue with ASIO director-general Mike Burgess’ comments that “rhetorical support” for Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation, would not necessarily preclude people from coming to Australia.

The government has granted 2922 visas to Palestinians fleeing Gaza since October 7, and 1300 of those people have arrived in Australia. Government sources said there were no current arrivals as borders to Gaza were closed.

With the Coalition continuing its offensive on Thursday, Albanese repeated his confidence in “our security and law enforcement agencies to do their job”.

In comments directed a Dutton, he added: “We’ve seen the form in this before. The criticism of Malcolm Fraser for making what was called a ‘mistake’ of bringing Lebanese refugees to Australia in response to the 1976 civil war.

“The claim that Victorians were scared to go out due to African gang violence, and the incorrect blaming of the death of a teenager on such gangs in a bid to score a point.

“The cruel war against the Biloela family, comparing their children to anchor babies. The catching of a senior member of the then government on a hot mic. Making jokes about Pacific nations facing rising sea levels ... This bloke has 20 years of form.”

On Thursday morning, Dutton claimed the issuing of visas from a war zone was “an egregious breach of what is in our country’s best interests”.

“This is not against people of a particular religious belief. This is not against people of a particular political persuasion. This is about keeping our country safe, and Anthony Albanese has failed the Australian public,” he said in parliament, after bringing a motion to discuss the issue.

“Imagine if the Howard government or the Morrison government had suggested we would bring people in who are sympathisers to Saddam Hussein or to al-Qaeda or to ISIL, or to ISIS?

“The Labor Party has changed their policy to allow sympathisers of a listed terrorist organisation to come here under a visitor visa. It’s without precedent.”

Steggall rose afterwards to say Dutton’s commentary was “extremely concerning” and whipped up fear, in an emotional speech in which she shared the story of a Palestinian man from her electorate. Labor MPs, including Tanya Plibersek, arrived to sit next to her in the chamber during the speech.

Labor MPs sit with Steggall during her speech.Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald

“These are families that you are seeking to paint that somehow they are all terrorists, that they should all be mistrusted and they are not worthy of humanitarian aid,” Steggall said.

As Dutton interjected, she yelled out: “Stop being racist.”

Dutton called for Steggall to withdraw the “offensive and unparliamentary remark”, which she did.

“I am offended by the rhetoric of the leader of the opposition … and the continued attempt to divide Australian society on these lines and issues,” Steggall said. “We are better than this ... You are doing everything you can to separate and divide our communities.”

Muslim and Palestinian advocacy groups have also decried Dutton’s remarks, saying the opposition leader was using them as “cannon fodder” approaching an election. Recent arrivals from Gaza defended themselves, arguing they were not affiliated with Hamas and had arrived in Australia to rebuild their lives after losing family members, homes and businesses during the war.

Earlier in the day, Dutton softened his commentary, telling some media interviews that he was “not discriminating on any basis … [I’m] happy to see people brought in from the Middle East if they’ve been properly checked, or from [the] Americas or from Asia or wherever it might be”.

But he maintained: “We should stop people coming in from a war zone ... You bring 3000 people in, let’s say 99 per cent are good. If 1 per cent, 30 people, are questionable, or sympathisers with a listed terrorist organisation, how on earth is that in our country’s best interests?”

Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 39,600 Palestinians and wounded more than 91,700 others, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. The war was triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack, in which militants from Gaza stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1200 people and abducting 250 others.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.