Calls by the opposition to ban Palestinians fleeing Gaza from entering Australia are only being made to “whip up fear”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton until strict security vetting processes could be applied, claiming terrorist sympathisers could be admitted to Australia.
A Palestinian woman who recently arrived in Australia insists her family have had security screenings already conducted by the Israeli, Egyptian and Australian governments.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the rhetoric from the coalition was causing community division at a time when security heads were calling for social cohesion.
“What does Peter Dutton do? He doesn’t talk about issues of concern to Australians, what he does is try and whip up fear,” he told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.
“The fact is that the borders at the moment are closed, of course, through the Rafah crossing.”
Department of Home Affairs figures showed , and of the 2922 that had been approved, 1300 had arrived safely in Australia.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombing campaigns and ground offensives, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Israel’s military action followed the Hamas-led cross-border attack on October 7, in which Israeli officials say about 1200 people were killed and 250 abducted.
Peter Dutton ‘shutting door’ on Palestinians
In an opinion piece published on Sunday, Dutton repeated calls for visas to not be issued until security vetting processes could be guaranteed.
“We cannot tell who’s who, unless thorough background checks are done,” he said.
“We need to be clear-eyed about Palestinians in Gaza. Some Gazans are Hamas terrorists. Some will have been accomplices in holding hostages.”
Dutton’s comments have been condemned by Labor, the Greens, some crossbenchers, and Palestinian groups.
Despite the opposition had “shut the door” on Palestinian families fleeing conflict, Nationals leader David Littleproud said the vetting process needed to be bolstered.
He said were needed for all prospective visa applicants from Gaza to ensure it was not being rushed.
“While we do rely on some of our partners to help us in some of the intelligence around individuals, it’s important for ourselves to also do that around face-to-face interviews,” he told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
“Most of those who are here now, the visas were done on average in 24 hours, some in less than an hour. How can we have confidence that the right decisions and the criteria was hit?”
The federal government said security checks for visa applicants were the same as when the coalition were last in power.
Nationals leader David Littleproud has raised concerns visas for Gazans are being rushed through. Source: AAP / Russell Freeman
“I have confidence in ASIO and in our security agencies. It’s up to Peter Dutton to explain why it is that he’s questioning those security agencies and the procedures that they have in place,” Albanese said.
Littleproud said further checks needed to be carried out to ensure proper process.
“We’re in no way saying in any way, shape or form, that we don’t still welcome those of the Islamic faith to this country,” he said.
Minister Ed Husic says the government is trying to get people out of danger as quickly as possible. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Opposition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar accused the government of a “cavalier attitude” to the security vetting process.
“You’ve got to put the interests of Australians first … and their interest is not supported by Hamas supporters and sympathisers being granted visas into this country,” he told Sky news.
Government minister Ed Husic issued a plea for humanity from the opposition leader, saying the coalition had turned their backs on those fleeing violence in the Middle East.
“Peter Dutton was in (government) where he provided support for Syrians, for Afghans and for Ukrainians, and then all of a sudden, just shut the door in one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes we’re witnessing,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
The Idrees family, who recently in Australia having fled from Gaza, say they are trying to live a peaceful life in Australia and are “shocked” by accusations Palestinians like them could be a security risk. Credit: SBS
“That speaks volumes about Peter Dutton, someone who is seeking to be an alternative, where he can turn his back on parents that are trying to save lives of their kids, all for the sake of him shoring up his political situation.”
Husic said it was appropriate for tourist visas to be issued to those fleeing from Gaza, due to it being able to be processed faster.
“Refugee visas take longer, and given what’s happening right now and the dangers presented, the view was to try and get people out as quickly as you can,” he said.
“We are trying to assist at some of the toughest points in time that people are facing.”
‘We just want to live in peace’
But Palestinians who’ve recently arrived in Australia have told SBS News they have undergone rigorous security checks by three governments to get here – including Israel and Egypt.
Ghada Idrees, who now resides in Sydney, said her family was feeling frustrated and disappointed by the accusations.
“We are here peacefully – we are shocked that we are accused of being something we are not,” she told SBS News.
“We are seeking (safety). We will never be a security risk, no way, We just want to live in peace.”
