A Palestinian person is in immigration detention, after their visa was revoked onshore on character grounds, it has been revealed in Senate estimates.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed 3,041 Palestinians fleeing Gaza have been granted visas since 7 October 2023 to 15 October 2024 — with 7,252 visas refused. Just four visas were refused onshore — with three of those individuals holding another visa that remains in effect.
Department officials confirmed one person’s visa was cancelled on character grounds.
Liberal senator James Paterson said there was “enormous public interest in these cases” as he sought further information.
“Senator, it’s an individual case, and we won’t talk about the details for privacy reasons,” Michael Thomas, first assistant secretary for immigration compliance told the committee.
On 9 October, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told parliament all visa cancellations relating to Palestinians from Gaza had “so far been offshore.”
“Ministers have been asked about these matters in Question Time, and from my recollection, they have previously said that no visas have been cancelled onshore for security or character reasons?” Paterson questioned.
The number of visas granted for those fleeing Gaza and subsequent cancellations were scrutinised in Senate estimates on Monday. Source: AAP / Middle East Images/ABACA/PA
Labor senator Murray Watt, representing the Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke, said he could confirm “to the best of my knowledge, everything that ministers have previously said was correct at the point in time that they said that”.
It was later confirmed the cancellation occurred after September 18.
“It’s not unprecedented for people granted a visa to have that visa cancelled because of security information,” he said.
“It happened on 20 occasions when Mr Dutton was minister.”
Opposition leader , citing security concerns.
Updated figures reveal 44 people had their visas cancelled offshore, with 21 of those applications later reinstated after the Department was provided more information. Fifteen of those individuals have since come to Australia.
Questions about the possibility of a return to Gaza
Paterson also referred to the, thus triggering the release of about 150 immigration detainees.
The prospect of returning anyone to Gaza amid the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe seems remote, prompting questions about the Palestinian individual’s future.
“If this person can’t be removed, and if the NZYQ obligations are triggered, then they would have to be released into the community, wouldn’t they?” he asked.
“Senator, we’d be speculating about that, we don’t know the circumstances yet,” Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster told the committee.
Assistant Secretary Michael Thomas added the person “might wish to depart voluntarily to a country they have a right of entry to.”
Refugee lawyers have told SBS a visa cancellation on character grounds doesn’t necessarily imply the individual posed a national security risk.
