Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam has called on the Albanese Government to explain the unannounced visit to Canberra today by President of Nauru, David Adeang.
“It is bizarre to have a head of state from one of our closest neighbours visit without any prior notice or proper diplomatic protocol. The Prime Minister needs to explain why he didn’t want Australians to know about this meeting,” Senator Duniam said.
“Common courtesy and proper protocol would typically mean that the Government would announce to the Parliament, the press and the wider community that we were hosting a head of state, especially from our Pacific family.”
“What were the outcomes of this unannounced meeting? Why didn’t the Prime Minister offer President Adeang a joint press conference?”
“After months of secrecy, this unannounced meeting raises questions about whether there may already be problems with the 30-year, multi-billion dollar secretive agreement that was recently struck with the Nauruan Government to resettle members of the dangerous NZYQ cohort.”
“The Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke must be transparent with Australians.”
“Through this continued excessive secrecy and obfuscation, Australians are realising that the Labor Government is avoiding transparency and making policy decisions it doesn’t want Australians or their Parliament to know about.”
“Silence, obfuscation and a lack of transparency have been hallmarks of this Government, including in its dealings with the dangerous NZYQ cohort and the secretive agreement struck with Nauru.”
“Australians deserve to know what deals are being discussed, especially when it comes to community safety and national security. The Government’s refusal even to brief the Canberra press gallery about today’s visit by the Nauruan President raises even more questions about what it’s hiding – and whether taxpayer funds are being used with integrity.”
ENDS