Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the new direction would prioritise the “protection of the Australian community and common sense”.
Politicians in strife,desperate to save their backsides,have often reached for dog whistles. But these days it’s a loudhailer.
The federal government first chose not to cancel Kevin Farrugia’s visa in 2005,when the Maltese-born criminal was initially convicted for his work for the notorious drug baron.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles made the sensational statement in an interview on Thursday during a bruising week for the government over immigration.
The government has cancelled the visas of child sex offenders,drug dealers and violent assailants in urgent decisions to overturn tribunal rulings that let them stay in Australia.
The finger-pointing over migration and crime is beginning to get ugly.
The current blame game is setting a low bar for Australia’s political discourse. A sober,balanced assessment of the problem is urgently required.
Despite Andrew Giles’ assertion,government sources say drones are not being used to track detainees after the practicality of the program was questioned.
The Coalition has dominated the debate on the release of criminals from immigration detention,yet Anthony Albanese won’t sack his minister. To fix the politics,Labor needs to fix the policy.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles’ claim comes as several caucus colleagues are privately discussing his future in the portfolio.
The political brawl in Canberra over the deportation of convicted New Zealanders who have spent most of their lives in Australia is causing long dark clouds across the Tasman.