Dutton denies plan to spy on migrants before they enter Australia


READ MORE

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has denied the government is planning new laws that would allow ‘covert’ intelligence-gathering operations to screen would-be migrants before they leave their home countries for Australia.


Earlier in the week, The Daily Telegraph newspaper ran a front-page story claiming the government was planning “covert overseas missions to ensure migrants are really true blue.”


The story was based on an interview with the top bureaucrat in Mr Dutton’s new Home Affairs department, Michael Pezzullo.


The Turnbull government is considering monitoring migrants coming to Australia before they leave home.

Mr Pezzullo told the newspaper the government was considering “using intelligence” to check the character of visa applicants “before you even migrate”. 


At Parliament House on Thursday, SBS News asked Mr Dutton if the proposal could include covert operations.


“No,” Mr Dutton replied.


The Home Affairs Minister said any new policies on vetting migrants would be announced “in due course,” but suggested the government’s future efforts would be focused on using technology.


“There’s a lot with technology, as that rolls out and as we can exchange information more freely with partners, that we’ll be able to build on,” Mr Dutton said.


“We’ll explore whatever means possible to find ways to keep Australians safe.”


Independent MP Andrew Wilkie speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on February 28, 2018

Mr Pezzullo declined to speak with SBS News on Tuesday.


Independent MP and former Australian intelligence analyst Andrew Wilkie said the proposal sounded “wacky” and said it was “completely improper” for Mr Pezzullo to float the idea, given he is a public servant and not an elected politician.


But on Thursday, Mr Dutton defended his Mr Pezzullo’s right to comment on the matter as head of the department.


“He’s perfectly entitled to speak to our policy, to our beliefs, to the government of the day’s programs,” Mr Dutton said.


Earlier in the week, Labor said the plan sounded like dog whistle tactics. 


“It wouldn’t surprise me that this government would use whatever dog whistle it can against potential refugees, potential migrants to this country,” Labor senator Doug Cameron told reporters at Parliament House on Tuesday.


Article source: http://smh.com.au/afl/preliminary-progress-helped-by-fate--and-collingwood-20170922-gyn7fr.html

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One Nation's Malcolm Roberts wants migration rate more than halved

Image
READ MORE Australia’s yearly intake of skilled migrants and their families should be radically cut to just 70,000, according to One Nation’s top Senate candidate in Queensland. The current cap has been set at 190,000 since 2011, but the actual intake fell to its lowest level in a decade under the Coalition government  during the past financial year, with just 163,000 permanent arrivals. Mr Roberts will lead the One Nation ticket in the Senate in the party’s traditional stronghold state of Queensland at the next federal election, which is due to take place by May. He was ejected from parliament earlier in the year when the High Court found he held a dual citizenship, in breach of Section 44 of the Constitution. Party leader Pauline Hanson has a six-year term and her seat will not be in contested. One Nation is known for its anti-immigration policies, but will need to compete with rivals like Katter’s Australia Party, whose members have called for a public vote on a potential return to
Read more

World Cup Central: Dhoni, Akhtar, Botham in All Blacks all-time cricket XV

READ MORE Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print World Cup fever has crossed platforms. There was Harry Kane sneaking into India’s training sessions to meet Virat Kohli. And now there’s the All Blacks picking a XV made up of past and present cricketers. With the @cricketworldcup underway in England, we’ve taken a look at all the best players from past and present to select the ultimate Cricket XV! SQUAD NOTES https://t.co/B3rnj5OBuJ #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/KuUtPU77PT — All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 2, 2019 And they’ve got some pretty cool reasons for picking some pretty cool players. Curtly Ambrose : If anyone wants to argue with this selection then take it up with Sir Curtly himself. We dare you. MS Dhoni : The Richie McCaw of Cricket. Enough said. Dwayne Leverock : Famous for his one-handed catch at the 2003 World Cup, the 130kg Bermudian would surely make just as big a splash on the rugby field. Jofra Archer runs in to bowl  Getty Images June 1 Archer the fastes
Read more

Stevie J Accuses Ex Joseline Of Alienating Him From Daughter, 2, & Moving To Miami With Another Man

Image
READ MORE ‘LHH’ star Stevie J is battling his ex Joseline Hernandez over their daughter Bonnie Bella, 2. The music producer’s going after full custody of the toddler – and he wants child support. Stevie J , 47, is accusing Joseline Hernandez , 32, of preventing him from seeing his daughter Bonnie Belle Hernandez , 2, in the latest round in their custody battle. In court papers filed on May 14, the Love Hip Hop: Atlanta star accused his ex of engaging in “parental alienation” and of living part-time with a “male companion” in Miami. It was only a year ago that Stevie and Joseline reached a prior custody agreement after a long court battle over Bonnie Bella. They agreed to joint physical custody of the toddler with Joseline retaining primary custody. But now, Stevie has changed his mind. In court papers, which were obtained by HollywoodLife , Stevie accuses Joseline of purposely blocking him from seeing his two-year-old daughter. “The respondent (Joseline) has engaged in acts of parent
Read more