Peter Dutton lashes out after revelations of au pair lobbying by AFL chief Gillon McLachlan
Peter Dutton hits out at suggestions he halted au pair deportation, while not denying being contacted by AFL chief’s office.
Peter Dutton has lashed out at suggestions he intervened in an au pair’s visa troubles due to the fact she once worked for the cousins of AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.
The Home Affairs Minister personally intervened after French au pair and yoga teacher Alexandra Deuwel was detained at Adelaide International Airport in 2015, according to Freedom of Information documents obtained by the ABC.
The woman had been detained over concerns she intended to work.
Ms Deuwel reportedly worked for AFL chief executive Mr McLachlan’s second cousin, Callum Maclachlan, on a previous stay in Australia.
It has been reported that the AFL boss made representations to Mr Dutton’s chief of staff Craig Maclachlan over Ms Deuwel’s case.
Documents obtained by the ABC show Mr Dutton granted the woman a three-month tourist visa, on the condition she did not work.
“Having regard to this person’s particular circumstances and personal characteristics, I have decided to use my discretionary powers ... as it would be in the public interest to grant this person a visa,” he wrote.
“In the circumstances, I have decided that as a discretionary and humanitarian act to an individual with ongoing needs, it is in the interests of Australia as a humane and generous society to grant this person a visitor visa (subclass 600) for a period of three months.”
Mr Dutton said in a statement this afternoon that he considered all cases on their merits but did not deny Mr McLachlan had contacted his office.
“I consider cases on their merits,” he said, “Any suggestions cases are determined on any other basis, including whether I knew the individual who referred the matter, is completely ridiculous.”
“Ministers for Immigration receive, annually, hundreds of representations on individual migration matters from members of the public, organisations, journalists and other Members of Parliament.”
Mr Dutton also called out media reports earlier today which he said suggested his chief of staff was related to the AFL chief or his cousins in Adelaide.
“In her most recent article, Ms (Lisa) Martin (of Guardian Australia) seeks to imply that my Chief of Staff may be related to Gillon McLachlan. This too is false,” he said.
Mr Dutton is currently facing a Senate inquiry over his previous decisions to intervene of two previous cases of au pairs. He said today he was exercising the powers given to all immigration ministers.
“There are long standing intervention powers provided to Ministers to consider and deal with these representations. These powers were the same under the former Labor government.”
Mr Dutton lost the Liberal Party leadership to Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week after he challenged then-incumbent Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Morrison restored Mr Dutton to his position and he was sworn in as Home Affairs Minister this morning.
A spokesman for the AFL chief executive told The Guardian: “It’s not his au pair. He’s got no comment.”
Greens Senator Nick McKim quickly seized on the reports.
“Dutton has some serious questions to answer. Looking forward to the Senate inquiry,” he posted to Twitter.
So too did opposition immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann.
“Labor expects the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison to ensure his minister fully cooperates with the Senate Inquiry and its efforts to get to the bottom of these matters,” he said on Tuesday.
Additional reporting: AAP
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