Secrecy on murderers, sex abusers is a security debacle

Among those still at large in the community is Malaysian hit man Sirul Azhar Umar, who killed a pregnant woman ­before blowing her body up with military explosives.

The Albanese government, in throwing a shroud of secrecy around 149 immigration detainees released under its botched response to a High Court ruling last year, has put public safety at grave risk. The cover-up is one of the worst examples of the state denying the public’s right to know that has been seen in Australia for a long time. It beggars belief, as political editor Simon Benson wrote, that it took the opposition to demand documents from the Home Affairs Department, in a Senate inquiry, to prise out the appalling truth. That is, the 149 detainees include seven murderers, 37 sex offenders and 72 violent criminals. Sixteen have convictions for domestic violence and stalking, and 13 previously were found guilty of serious drug offences. Four individuals were convicted of people smuggling, international crimes or low-level offences, or were not criminal offenders. Among those still at large in the community is Malaysian hit man Sirul Azhar Umar, who killed a pregnant woman ­before blowing her body up with military explosives.

Tuesday’s revelations were no less alarming. Newly released Home Affairs documents show that 60 of the released detainees live in NSW, 40 in Victoria, 20 in Queensland, 20 in Western Australia, fewer than 10 in South Australia and fewer than five in the ACT. Citing a potential breach of these individuals’ privacy, details about where they live are being withheld. The department, to the Albanese government’s shame, has refused calls from the Coalition to define the locations by local government area. Perish the thought that indignant citizens are entitled to know even that much. Or how many of the convicted offenders are required to wear ankle bracelets.

It also was revealed on Monday that 36 of the 149 freed detainees have been exempted from wearing ankle bracelets and that 24 have reoffended. That contrasts with the situation two months ago, when the public was told a fourth detainee had been arrested and charged. That figure emerged on December 7 as the government, after being caught flat-footed and embarrassed into acting by Peter Dutton, rushed through preventive detention laws to deal with the fallout from the High Court’s decision, delivered on November 8, that indefinite detention was unlawful.

Since December, Home Affairs should have been releasing regular reports on detainees who reoffended and where. The excuse offered on Monday – the department had not updated public information because it was moving to a monthly reporting system – was no excuse at all.

Decisions about releasing important details should not rest with highly paid mandarins who can afford to live in secure neighbourhoods. Communities in broader electorates, many of which voted Labor in 2022, need Anthony Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to put their safety ahead of the privacy of a band of dangerous foreign criminals.

Aside from secrecy, the government also has failed to use the preventive detention laws it passed in December to secure preventive detention orders for any of the released criminals. That is despite the formation of a taskforce of 20 Home Affairs lawyers, more than two months ago, to prepare the applications. Department of Home Affairs general counsel Clare Sharp told a Senate estimates hearing on ­Monday: “We have not filed an application yet. We’re continuing to compile the evidence.” It was an answer Sir Humphrey Appleby would applaud.

Under intense political pressure Mr Giles said on Monday: “We are working around the clock to ensure that applications are made as soon as possible and, critically, that applications are successful, not half-baked.” Too little, too late. The debacle raises serious questions about Labor’s ability and will to manage this aspect of national security.