Peter Dutton has avoided supporting a long-term visa for the injured Pakistani security guard who risked his life in the Bondi Junction tragedy, despite agreeing that the French ‘Bollard Man’ should be allowed to stay.
The opposition leader was asked about Muhammad Taha’s request for a visa extension for a hospital bed when he stopped by Westfield in Bondi Junction to pay his respects on Thursday morning.
Taha was stabbed in the stomach after bravely confronting knife-crazed Joel Cauchi during his violent attack on Saturday afternoon.
His colleague, Faraz Tahir, was among the six people fatally stabbed. Eight other victims remain in the hospital, two of them in critical condition.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week singled out his fellow hero, Frenchman Damien Guerot, who earned the nickname ‘Bollard Man’ after footage of him trying to stop Cauchi from riding an escalator went viral.
Muhammad Taha was stabbed in the stomach, but managed to radio other security personnel for help, becoming one of the first people to raise the alarm (pictured, still recovering in hospital).
Dutton avoided supporting a long-term visa for the injured Pakistani security guard who risked his life in the Bondi Junction tragedy.
The prime minister offered him citizenship on Tuesday, stating that he was “welcome to stay as long as he wanted.” The generous offer prompted Mr Taha, whose expert subclass 487 visa expires next month, to ask for the same courtesy.
Asked about the request while laying flowers on Thursday, Dutton said: “That’s obviously a matter for the Prime Minister.”
“I think right now the focus is really on those who have lost their lives, those who are recovering, and I think any other issues can be addressed in due time.”
But Dutton supported the prime minister’s offer to Guerot earlier this week.
“I support the Prime Minister’s generous offer…we should not be afraid to want people to come to our country who are the best people,” Dutton said on Tuesday.
‘When you look at the images of that young French citizen standing at the top of the escalator with a bollard, putting his own life at risk to protect others, he embodies the spirit of Anzac and we would want people of that character in our country.
“I think it’s a good decision by the Prime Minister and I’m happy to support it.”
Anthony Albanese offered citizenship to Damien Guerot for his bravery
Frenchman Guerot who went viral after images of him confronting Cauchi at the top of an escalator while holding a bollard went viral.
Speaking to Ray Hadley on Thursday morning, Dutton said the Frenchman is “ticking a lot of the boxes” for qualities he would like to see in people coming to Australia.
‘They tell me he was a quite impressive and very humble young man. They are the kind of Australians we want.
Hadley noted that he had offered “bipartisan support” regarding Guerot’s visa and suggested he had now done the same for Taha.
Dutton responded by highlighting Guerot’s efforts, but did not address Taha’s.
‘I think in one circumstance when you look at the footage of that young man holding the bollard at the top of the escalator, he didn’t need to do that, he didn’t need to be there, it’s not his country,’ he said.
“I just think the acts of strangers helping other people they’ve never met before and putting their own lives at risk, or those who were on the ground applying pressure to puncture wounds on young children or women, are pretty heroic acts. ‘
Westfield Bondi Junction opened to the public on Thursday from 11am to 5pm for the community to pay their respects following Saturday’s horrific stabbing.
The 40-year-old attacker, Cauchi, was shot dead by experienced inspector Amy Scott.
The six victims who will be honored are new mother Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, mother of two Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, citizen Chinese Yixuan Cheng, 27, and security guard Faraz. Tahir, 30 years old.
Community members will be able to walk through the center on Thursday while a section is set up to lay flowers and wreaths.
New music will be played at Westfield and a black tape will be displayed on advertising platforms instead.
Commerce will return on Friday for stores that decide to reopen.
Muhammad Taha (pictured above), from Pakistan, was patrolling the fourth floor of Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon when Joel Cauchi began stabbing random strangers. He now fights to stay in Australia.
