Andrew Giles faced a sustained and coordinated attack from the opposition over his handling of Australia’s immigration detention saga, amid calls for him to resign or be fired.
The Immigration Minister was the target of seven Coalition questions during Tuesday’s Question Time.
He was repeatedly asked about foreign-born criminals who received leniency in court as a result of a directive issued by Mr. Giles’ office.
Giles issued Directive 99 in January 2023, requiring courts to consider a foreign-born national’s links to Australia during deportation proceedings.
As a result, criminals who have no legal connection to Australia have been allowed to remain in the country after committing crimes.
The Coalition has condemned this as another scandal in the immigration portfolio since Labor came to power, following a High Court decision that allowed 153 detainees to be released onto the streets as part of the NZYQ cohort.
On Tuesday, Giles, who has been an easy target during Question Time for months, argued that his directive has not made it easier for criminals to remain in Australia.
He said it was the decision of the “independent court to revoke the cancellation of the visa”, despite his personal belief that it should remain cancelled.
‘Our thoughts are, of course, with the victims. In saying this, of course, community safety remains our top government priority,” Giles said twice.
The revelation has sparked fresh calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sack the minister responsible for immigration, Andrew Giles.
‘Directive 99 did not diminish the importance given to considerations such as the expectations of the Australian community and the protection of the community from crime. That’s a very important point here.’
In the case of Emmanuel Saki, a 29-year-old Sudanese man who arrived with his family when he was 12 and was charged with murder weeks after being released from an immigration detention center, Giles revealed that he has since canceled his visa again.
Saki’s visa had been canceled in the past but reinstated at the back of the 99 address due to his family links to Australia. He remains detained amid the investigation into the alleged murder.
As for the fifth question addressed to Mr Giles, he was asked to “speak up” after being interrupted by maverick MP Bob Katter to tell the chamber that he “couldn’t hear the minister”, adding that it was “probably a good thing “.
The Immigration Minister maintains that he and his department are examining many cases “as a priority” and that “all are under consideration for cancellation.”
It comes as new data reveals that one in five detainees released as part of the NZYQ cohort in November following the High Court ruling have reoffended.
Giles survived a motion brought in February by opposition leader Peter Dutton calling for his dismissal, and was in full swing after a second High Court ruling in the ASF17 case, which kept a new group of detainees following the bars.
March figures released in the Senate following an estimates hearing now reveal that at least 28 of the 153 people released following the NZYQ decision have reoffended.
The cohort, which included rapists and murderers, was released into the community after the High Court ruled their indefinite detention unconstitutional.
These people are considered stateless and therefore cannot be deported.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson and commentator Joe Hildebrand urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take decisive action against Giles this week.
Paterson said Giles’ ministerial position is “untenable”.
‘The minister should have been sacked weeks, if not months ago. But he should be fired this week.
He argued that both Mr Giles and Home Secretary Clare O’Neil have powers available to “take these people off the streets” through preventive detention orders which were passed by Parliament following the High Court decision.
“This government is too weak to protect them,” he said.
‘There is no other barrier than the weakness of the Albanian government to get rid of these people.
‘During the previous Liberal government, we got rid of people like this. “Under the next Liberal government, when elected, we will get rid of people like this.”
March figures released in the Senate following an estimates hearing now reveal that at least 28 of the 153 people released following the NZYQ decision have reoffended.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson and commentator Joe Hildebrand urged Albanese to take decisive action against Giles this week.
Hildebrand shared a similar thought, arguing that Giles should first be given the opportunity to resign this week.
“If he doesn’t do it, Anthony Albanese should fire him,” he said.
“It’s no secret that I’m a bit soft on Albo and I love him very much, but this is simply indefensible. It’s absolutely appalling.
“This guy is a clown.”
The government has introduced a raft of measures in an effort to combat potential risks, including the introduction of ankle monitors.
However, figures suggest that only half of detainees are subject to ankle monitors as part of their visa conditions.
“At least 28 members of the NZYQ cohort have reoffended after being released into the community,” opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson said.
‘How serious must the detainees’ crime wave be before they act?’
