Thursday, 30 May 2024

Community safety

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:07): (551) My question is to the Attorney-General. In the Australian Senate it was revealed this week that as a consequence of ministerial direction 99, signed off by the federal Labor immigration minister Andrew Giles, dozens of visa cancellations were overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. People whose visas were reinstated include a suspected people smuggler, a paedophile, multiple repeat domestic violence perpetrators, drug traffickers and a kidnapper. Has the government sought or received any advice as to how many of these criminals reside in Victoria?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:08): I thank Mr Mulholland for his question. However, I have been asked similar questions before and I have provided the very clear advice that this is a federal government matter. The AFP work closely with Victoria Police, but in relation to directing a question to me – and I am not undermining the seriousness of the issues that you raise – to seek information that is not within the remit of my portfolio as a direct responsibility, because of the nature of these matters, I have already been very clear about this. I guess I would seek your advice, President. When I have given advice to the chamber clearly that it is not appropriate to ask me these questions, and it continues, can I seek your guidance? When my answers repeatedly are the same and questions continue to be directed to me, it leaves me in a position where I am just repeating the answer.

The PRESIDENT: I was taking that as an answer to the question, but the last bit I will take as a point of order. I will take the repetitiveness into consideration for a later date, but as far as answering a question goes, if a minister’s answer is ‘The question is not inside my remit as far as my responsibilities as a minister go,’ then that is the answer and they have given an answer. Mr Mulholland has a supplementary, which will be very difficult for him to ask in relation to the answer.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:10): I will have a go at a supplementary. I was simply asking if the coordinating minister had sought advice, which should not be too hard to answer. After doing nothing for months until it appeared on the front page of the Australian newspaper, the federal immigration minister was finally sufficiently concerned enough about the conduct of these criminals to cancel their visas; however, they remain in the community. What actions, if any, has the government taken to ensure that these convicted criminals will not pose a continuing threat to the safety of Victorians?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:11): Some of the information that I did provide in my answer to the substantive question talked about the relationship between the federal government, the Australian Federal Police and their information-sharing responsibilities with Victoria Police in relation to any dangers to the Victorian community.