Given the secrecy and coverups that are a hallmark of this Labor Government’s handling of the Home Affairs portfolio, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke must immediately ensure that no Palestinian prisoner released as part of the Middle East peace deal and relocated to a third-party nation comes to Australia.
Reports have emerged of 154 prisoners being transferred to undisclosed third-party countries which have not been named. Australians need certainty that we are not taking in any individuals who have been a direct part of the appalling conflict in the Middle East, potentially having perpetrated criminal acts against Israelis as part of the conflict.
Hot off the back of the ISIS brides cover up – where the Government has failed to detail its involvement in repatriation efforts nor even assured Australians of these individuals’ whereabouts – the Home Affairs Minister must come clean with Government’s intentions.
Additionally, the Coalition expects the Government to be transparent about its intentions with the returning of individuals back to the Middle East following the breakthrough peace deal, including a date for repatriations.
For too long, the Albanese Labor Government has unnecessarily left Australians in the dark over immigration decisions. It is the right thing to be transparent and is indeed in our national interest that Australians are kept abreast of developments that involve their safety.
ENDS