Coalition slams Labor’s inaction on detainees amid Home Affairs hiring spree

The government has advertised multiple positions to work in Operation Aegis, which oversees the cohort of detainees released following the NZYQ High Court decision.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson has accused the Albanese government of overseeing a ‘shocking failure’ for community safety. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Albanese government is embarking on a hiring spree, recruiting public servants to monitor freed immigration detainees, as the Coalition criticises Labor for failing to make a single application under its preventive detention laws in a year.

In a move that signals a ramping up of its monitoring activities, the Department of Home Affairs advertised multiple positions to work in Operation Aegis, which oversees the cohort of detainees released following the NZYQ High Court decision.

Following the landmark ruling which triggered the release of about 150 dangerous non-citizens on bridging visas, former Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil rushed laws through the parliament that empowered the courts to order the detention of the most serious offenders.

Ms O’Neil also implemented a framework to impose electronic monitoring and curfew conditions requirements on the cohort, which were last month found to be unconstitutional in a separate High Court challenge, known as YBFZ. Legislation allowing the monitoring of detainees to resume was passed as part of a trio of migration bills in the final sitting week of the year.

The number of NZYQ detainees released into the community had since risen to 248, the latest Community Protection Board report reveals, with only 24 wearing ankle monitors and 18 subject to a curfew after the nation’s highest court struck down the surveillance powers.

One year to the day since Labor’s preventive detention regime passed the parliament, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson has accused the Albanese government of overseeing a “shocking failure” for community safety.

“Under these laws, the Minister for Home Affairs must apply to the court for a community safety detention order or community safety supervision order,” Senator Paterson said.

“But 12 months on, neither the former ministers Clare O’Neil and Andrew Giles, or the current minister Tony Burke, have lodged a single application.

“This is despite the high recidivism of the NZYQ cohort, which has seen at least 65 individuals reoffend since their release.”

After he struck a deal with the Coalition to pass measures allowing the government to remove non-citizens to a third country under a paid agreement, Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke said his preference was to deport the former detainees.

“I have been clear that the best option for these people is to get them out of the country and we’re pursuing that,” Mr Burke said.

“The preventive detention regime is modelled on a Coalition-era policy for terrorism offenders which took three years to make its first application.”

Home Affairs advertised multiple roles across different locations last week, outlining that the positions would involve successful applicants enforcing “critical compliance measures related to the Bridging (Removal Pending) visa cohort”.

Under the joint operation between Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police, recruits will also oversee “community supervision orders that mandate strict behaviour and reporting protocols”.

“Working in Operation Aegis, you will play a critical role in ensuring the security and safety of Australia’s borders through compliance and enforcement activities,” the ad states.

“Operation Aegis works closely with law enforcement partners, including the Australian Federal Police, to monitor and enforce visa and community safety conditions for individuals under the Bridging (Removal Pending) visa.

“Your work will be essential in achieving goals and ensuring operational effectiveness in this high-impact role.”