Minister invokes corruption watchdog over offshore detention scandal

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has invoked the new national corruption watchdog in response to allegations of government contractors’ suspect payments to Pacific Island officials involved in Australia’s offshore detention program, as Labor, Liberal and crossbench MPs call for an independent inquiry.

O’Neil said the claims of improper use of taxpayer dollars by companies contracted by Home Affairs were “deeply concerning” and that she would respond more fully after reviewing information revealed in the Home Truths investigative series by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil says the Albanese government has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“Our government has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, which is why one of our first policy decisions was to create a National Anti-Corruption Commission,” O’Neil said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Opposition Leader Peter Dutton needed to front up over “serious allegations” that Home Affairs gave a multimillion-dollar offshore detention contract to an Australian businessman just a month after federal police told Dutton, who was then the relevant minister, that the man was under investigation for bribery.

“It has been suggested that he [Dutton] was warned ... the people deserve an explanation about these events,” Albanese said.

“This is taxpayers’ money and Mr Dutton has a responsibility to explain what occurred on his watch as home affairs minister with this scandal.”

Documents tabled in federal parliament reveal the Australian Federal Police told Dutton in July 2018 that Sydney-based Mozammil Bhojani was under investigation over suspected bribes to Nauruan politicians.

The following month, Home Affairs entered into a fresh contract with Bhojani’s company, Radiance International, documents obtained by this masthead show. Bhojani was convicted of bribing Nauruan officials in 2020.

There is no suggestion that Dutton himself played a part in signing the contracts.

Dutton’s office declined to comment on behalf of the Liberal leader, who is on leave, beyond saying that Home Affairs gave out contracts without ministerial oversight, a point previously made by department secretary Mike Pezzullo in a parliamentary hearing.

Opposition frontbencher Michaelia Cash said the allegations were matters for Home Affairs, adding she had “no doubt” they would be canvassed in upcoming Senate estimates hearings involving departmental heads.

“There is no suggestion that Peter Dutton himself played a part in signing the contracts. These contracts are signed by the Department of Home Affairs,” she told ABC radio’s RN Breakfast, adding that as assistant minister for immigration and border protection between 2013 and 2015 she was unaware of the issues raised in the reports.

However, Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer called for an independent inquiry into the allegations, which include suspect payments being made to senior politicians from Nauru and Papua New Guinea, requests for bribes, and complaints to Home Affairs falling on deaf ears.

“I certainly think they are very serious revelations and warrant further inquiry,” Archer said, adding it was “critical that there is trust and integrity in government contracts”.

NSW Labor MP Mike Freelander said although he preferred not to second-guess his colleagues, he believed there should be an independent inquiry. Tasmanian independent MP and integrity campaigner Andrew Wilkie called on the government to “act quickly to investigate the matter” and urged Dutton to address parliament next week.

Independent MPs Dr Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall all called for an investigation, with Scamps urging the government to either establish an inquiry or refer the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

However, Steggall said any NACC probe would likely be behind closed doors.

“I believe there should be a royal commission into offshore detention so that this whole policy area can be publicly examined,” she said.

Spender said both Dutton and Home Affairs had serious questions to answer.

“The politicians and public servants responsible must be held to account,” she said.

Labor MP Julian Hill said it was inappropriate to talk about whether particular accusations would be referred to the NACC, and the commission itself chose what to investigate.

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