Independent federal MP Zali Steggall maintains her view that calls to ban Palestinians from fleeing war-torn Gaza are “racist” in the face of possible legal action.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton last week called for people leaving Gaza to be prevented from reaching Australia until security vetting processes are tightened, saying terrorist sympathisers could be allowed into the country.
His comments were widely condemned by Muslim and Palestinian advocacy groups.
Ms Steggall, who holds the New South Wales seat of Warringah, was booed in parliament last week during a debate, before telling opposition benchers to “stop being racist”.
Asked about reports that Mr Dutton was seeking legal advice over his comments, Ms Steggall doubled down.
“I would regard this as once again a tried and true part of Mr Dutton’s playbook for intimidating people and stopping them from speaking out against his policies and behaviour,” she told ABC radio on Monday.
‘I stand by my view that this policy proposal is inherently racist and designed to foster fear and hatred towards a minority group.’
The independent MP said it was necessary to denounce the case “for the sake of our social cohesion”.
Peter Dutton said allowing Palestinians into Australia without proper vetting was a national security issue
Teal MP Zali Steggall (pictured in the House on Thursday) criticised Dutton as a “racist”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese again called Dutton “deeply divisive” but refused to say the opposition leader was racist during an interview with the ABC.
“I think Peter Dutton is deeply divisive and that creates a risk for the nation,” he said.
‘I was stunned last week when we welcomed our Olympians, in a moment of national unity that proved once again that there is no moment too big for him to prove how small he is.
‘It’s always about politics. With Peter Dutton, it’s all about politics and it’s all about division.
‘Peter Dutton knows full well that the same security agencies, indeed the same personnel in many cases, deal with national security issues. If he doesn’t trust them, he should say so.’
Mr Albanese said people were unable to leave Gaza after Israeli authorities closed the Rafah crossing.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham rejected all allegations that Dutton was trying to create fear.
“What we’re seeing from the prime minister and some of the Teals like Zali Steggall – who promised some kind of kinder, gentler politics – is that they’re actually quite happy to play the man rather than the ball,” he told ABC radio.
‘They are happy to launch personal attacks on Peter Dutton rather than focus on the political debate here.’
Senator Birmingham said the coalition believes the strictest possible screening should be applied to ensure that people resettling in Australia are not terrorist sympathisers.
“Our view is that everyone should be in complete control of a situation in Gaza that is incredibly complex, that is a tragedy in terms of the loss of life that is occurring, but where also the investigation indicates that there is significant community-wide support for Hamas,” he said.
Figures from the Department of Home Affairs showed that 7,100 Palestinian visas had been refused and of the 2,922 people approved, 1,300 had arrived safely in Australia.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombing campaigns and ground offensives, according to the Hamas-controlled local health ministry.
Last week, Mr Dutton told Sky News: “I don’t think people should be coming from that war zone at the moment.”
“It is not wise to do so and I believe it puts our national security at risk.”