The opposition has intensified its focus on the Gaza conflict, pressing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government during Question Time.
On Aug. 20, the Shadow Minister for Immigration Dan Tehan probed the prime minister, at one point repeating a question six times about visas for Gaza refugees.
The shadow minister demanded a clear answer on whether the government has cancelled any visas for individuals who entered Australia from Gaza post-Oct. 7, 2023, the date of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Prime Minister Albanese responded accusing the government of racial profiling.
“Every person who fled Gaza after October underwent rigorous checks by both the Israeli and Egyptian authorities. The idea that those who have successfully passed these screenings and arrived in Australia still pose a threat is unfounded and perpetuates harmful stereotypes, alienating those who made it to safety here.”
He asserted that the “stereotyping and targeting people because of their race or their faith” is not good for Australia.
“People from Gaza or the West Bank, for that matter, certainly do not automatically become Hamas supporters.”
Albanese also said tried to paint the opposition as hypocritical for issuing visas to refugees from war zones.
He pointed to the 9,027 visas issued to Ukrainians between Feb. 24, 2022, and June 30, 2022, during the last government.
He also said visas were granted to individuals from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq—countries heavily impacted by conflict.
“Afghanistan is under Taliban control, Syria has endured a civil war with parts controlled by ISIS, and Iraq has similarly been affected.
“From the 2013-14 financial year to 2022, the former government granted 1,991 visitor visas to people from Afghanistan, 4,994 to people from Iraq, and 1,505 to people from Syria. These visas were issued while Islamic State controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria from 2014 to 2019; Syria has been in civil war since 2012, and the Taliban have held significant control over Afghanistan throughout this period.”
The opposition, however, also challenged the government regarding its security processes when granting visas to Gazans.
They cited the example of Canada, which, before approving visas for people from Hamas-controlled Gaza, required applicants to undergo face-to-face interviews and biometric testing in Egypt.
Albanese did not reply directly and said security agencies conducted the process, and the government was following the protocol.
