Peter Dutton says New Zealand detainees held for serious crimes

Peter Dutton rejects a New Zealand MP’s claims immigration detainees are being held for minor offences.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has rejected “inaccurate” claims by a New Zealand MP that some detainees held in immigration detention are being punished for minor shoplifting and traffic violations.

Marama Fox, co-leader of the Maori Party, claimed detainees had been asked to sign legal documents waiving their legal rights to appeal in exchange for a flight to New Zealand.

“One person who we understand has been detained neglected to fill out his log book subsequent times and was hence given a 15-month sentence, of which he didn’t serve the whole sentence,” she told ABC Radio.

Mr Dutton denied claims that some Christmas Island detainees’ visas had been cancelled merely for minor offences.

“This particular lady who is alleged to … have had her visa cancelled for shoplifting. I went back and had a look at the criminal history which spans back over many years, includes break and enter, includes other serious offences,” Mr Dutton said.

“Nobody’s jailed for 12 months for shoplifting and it defies common sense. So I think people should frankly stick to the facts and I think we’d have a better debate.

“These people (in Christmas Island) are serious criminals and people who have been involved in attempted murder, in manslaughter, convictions for rape, convictions for grievous bodily harm and serious assaults otherwise.”

Mr Dutton yesterday said Kiwi detainees pursuing legal avenues of appeal had been offered taxpayer-funded flights back to New Zealand where they could await an outcome in freedom. If their appeals were successful, they would be allowed back into Australia on a “no prejudice” basis, he said. Ms Fox disputed this claim.

“What they’re being told when they sign those documents is that they give up their rights to appeal. So actually the information that they are being given and the information that is being reported are two different things at the moment,” she said.

“What we are asking for is that the Australian government allow observers into the detention centre to see for themselves the conditions under which they have been detained and to ascertain the safety of those people who are in there.”

The Maori Party’s two MPs provide crucial support to the minority government of John Key, a centre-right prime minister who has personally lobbied Malcolm Turnbull to be more lenient with New Zealand citizens who violate their visa conditions.