Dutton’s clarity on Gaza refugees shows up weak PM

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess says “rhetorical support” for listed terrorist group Hamas is not a problem for Palestinians seeking visas. Anthony Albanese is declining to say whether an individual supporting a listed terrorist organisation such as Hamas would pass Australia’s character test (“ ‘Full blockade’: Peter Dutton’s call on Gazan visas”, 15/8).

At the same time, Australians are told by the PM that “words matter” and warned by Burgess that “inflamed language” was ramping up the threat of terrorism. Apparently “rhetorical support” for Hamas does not come under that umbrella. If such support for Hamas – the terrorist group that crossed into Israeli territory, took hostages, slaughtered others, uses Gazan civilians as human shields, and whose October 7 atrocities precipitated the current potentially apocalyptic scenario in the Middle East – is not a problem, the flip side is that it is acceptable.

Albanese is yet again practising obfuscation and equivocation while simultaneously attempting to walk both sides of the fence. By comparison, Dutton’s pronouncement – captain’s call or not – is a breath of clean, fresh, honest air.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern, Vic

With regard to Labor’s proposed intake of Gazan refugees, there are a number of salient points that need stating. The Department of Home Affairs has been accused of compromising on national security with its quick visa grants for Palestinians fleeing Gaza.

The Coalition says Gazan refugees should not be given visitor visas until biometric tests, face-to-face interviews and ASIO assessment can be conducted. This takes time. It took many months for proof to be conclusively established that UNRWA staff were active members of Hamas, with a number of these having actually participated in the October 7 atrocities.

We have seen the lack of moral clarity and leadership from those in power result in an escalating breakdown of social cohesion. This deficiency in our leaders and much of the media is evident in the repeated failure to distinguish between, on the one hand, casualties in the form of collateral damage resulting from an existential defensive war by the forces of a democratic nation against a terrorist adversary known to hide among its civilian population while making no secret of its callous desire to maximise and also overstate its own civilians’ casualties to further its propaganda war, and, on the other hand, casualties resulting from the deliberate and barbarous slaughter, rape and incineration of young men, women and children enjoying a music festival or simply believing they were safe at home.

It should be noted that Palestinian supporters such as China are not accepting Gazan refugees, nor are any of Israel’s close Arab neighbours, some having even prohibited Iran and its proxies from using their airspace.

Alan Franklin, St Ives, NSW

Peter Dutton has captured the mood of the electorate. It is not racist to expect a thorough investigation of visa applicants from war-torn regions (heavily influenced by terrorists) and, where this isn’t possible, a ban should apply. We are a generous nation.

However, there are signs of tensions such as ongoing anti-Semitism and aggressive demonstrations in our streets. We need to slow down the numbers arriving on our shores and be more selective about who we let in; whether it be temporary visas or permanent settlement. Labor has demonstrated once again that it can’t be trusted on border protection and that domestic politics and its dwindling primary vote are put ahead of social cohesion and the long-term national interest.

Glenn Marchant, Pascoe Vale, Vic

It didn’t take long for the usual culprits to play the racist card over Peter Dutton’s call for closer vetting of those coming to Australia from Gaza. And rightly so, given the government’s recent gross mishandling of foreign criminals being released into the community, where many have reoffended. This issue has nothing to do with race but everything to do with keeping terrorists from entering our country disguised as refugees. Something that would be easy to achieve given the lack of records available for scrutiny from the Hamas archives. There is a reason why Arab countries in the Middle East will not accept refugees from Gaza and it has nothing to do with racism.

Tom Moylan, Dudley Park, WA