Ed Husic ‘can’t understand’ why Coalition would take issue with Palestinians visas

Ed Husic has asserted that Palestinians granted Australian visas have undergone all standard security checks.

Industry Minister Ed Husic said the Coalition has a problem with “helping people out in dire need” after it raised doubts over plans to grant temporary visas to hundreds of Palestinians seeking to flee the Gaza war.

On Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed 860 visas had been approved for people in Gaza with connections to Australia in the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.

The Coalition announced shortly after that it would be “seeking assurances” on whether normal processes were followed given that a “very large number of visas have been granted in a very short period of time”

Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Mr Husic said hit back against assertions that official visa protocols weren’t followed and accused the Opposition of taking issue with providing safe passage for refugees.

“The coalition having served office knows the type of processes that are used to vet and clear the way in which people apply for visas, so they know. So what’s their issue?,” he said.

“Are they really saying that they don’t want Australian Palestinians who are deeply concerned about the fate of their families, for those people that are in Gaza, to be put out of harm’s way? Is that what they’re effectively saying?

“I don’t understand why the coalition would have a problem with us like the rest of the international community chipping in to get people out of harm’s way.”

Senator James Paterson said he was seeking assurances from the government that no corners were cut. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Earlier, Anthony Albanese sought to downplay concerns corners “were cut” saying visas being offered to Palestinians with close links to Australia had been subject to appropriate security checks.

More than 13,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the past seven weeks, and so far, only a small number of those with approved visas have made it out of the conflict zone. In addition, more than 1700 visas have been offered to Israelis with connections to Australia.

“These are not permanent visas. These are temporary visas,” Mr Albanese said on Thursday.

“There are the same security checks that are in place for people, for Australians, that have been in place for a long period of time.”

Earlier, the Coalition’s home affairs spokesman James Paterson said it sounded like “a very large number of visas have been granted in a very short period of time”.

“I am seeking reassurance from the government that all the normal checks and processes were followed and that no corners were cut in granting these visas and particularly the security assessments – which often do take quite a significant amount of time – were carried out on this cohort before they came to Australia,” Senator Paterson told ABC Radio.

Probed on whether he was concerned corners were cut, Senator Paterson noted a former ASIO director general had told the Senate in 2019 that the security assessments required for “cohorts like this” could take months at a time.

“So to grant more than 800 visas in just six weeks will be an extraordinary level of efficiency … I really hope pressure has not been put on ASIO or the Department of Home Affairs to cut any corners or do this more quickly than they already would,” he said.

“I’m just seeking reassurance from the government that (proper processes) happened.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said all normal checks and processes were followed. NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said it was typical of the opposition to “make a political point”, offering assurances that all normal checks and processes were followed.

“These are people who have applied. They go through the usual security checks, the usual identity checks, the usual character checks and have been granted visas,” Senator Wong told ABC News.

“These are visas granted in accordance with Australia’s current immigration system.

“The conditions of visas will be as those which are applied to people who come to Australia from other parts of the world.”

Senator Wong said it was worth noting that the granting of visas “doesn’t mean that people will be able to leave”.

“Obviously, the situation on the ground is still very difficult,” she said.

More than 850 Palestinians with connections to Australia have been granted visas since October 7. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Senators Wong and Paterson both welcomed news that a brief four-day ceasefire would begin later on Thursday, with Hamas to hand back a group of 50 Israeli hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

“It will be enormously significant … but obviously we need more. We need all of the hostages released,” Senator Wong said.

“We’ve been calling for humanitarian pauses for the protection of civilian lives. We know that any ceasefire cannot be one side. That’s why this progress on this is important.”

Hamas took 240 Israelis hostage on October 7, and Israel has committed to one extra day of ceasefire for every additional 10 hostages the terror group releases after the initial four days.