Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the action the government is taking to protect Australian families from dangerous non-citizens, including criminal gang members, and keep us all safe? Are there any risks to the government's approach in relation to these important matters?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Gilmore for her question and thank her very much for the work that she does to keep her community safe. As we've always said, the first priority of the Turnbull government is to keep Australians safe, and we have cancelled a record number of visas held by non-citizens who have committed crimes against Australians. In fact, the number is up by 1,200 per cent, and it includes some 540 visa holders who have committed offences of assault, 415 for other violent offences and 441 for drug offences. We have cancelled 52 visas for people who have committed murders, and 110 for rape and other sexual offences.

I am also pleased to inform the House that we have now cancelled 147 visas for non-citizens who were members of outlaw motorcycle gangs—members who were involved in the distribution of drugs. The biggest distributors of drugs in this country are outlaw motorcycle gang members. They are also involved in robbery, extortion and murder.

But I'm sorry to inform that there has been an unintended consequence from the cancellation of these visa holders who are outlaw motorcycle gang members. It seems that we have created somewhat of a shortage in the hired muscle required by the CFMEU on building sites around the country. This wasn't an intended consequence, but it is a positive one. And it is difficult for the Leader of the Opposition. He reaches always for his glass of water right at this point in time—right on cue. He knows what's coming, because the CFMEU aren't only involved in extortion rackets on building sites, breaking the arms of carpenters and people who won't pay the extortion money to the CFMEU; they're also deeply ensconced in the Australian Labor Party—

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo will leave under 94(a).

The member for Bendigo then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

led by this Leader of the Opposition. Right on cue, at this point he turns and talks to his colleagues, pretending that this conversation is not taking place.

And what happens is that the Labor Party is dictated to and run by the CFMEU. They've donated, over the last five years, $8 million to this Leader of the Opposition and this Labor Party. You would have thought—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will just pause for a second. He needs to withdraw the accusation that they donated personally to the Leader of the Opposition.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I'm happy to seek clarification about whether they have donated to the Leader of the Opposition's campaign.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, no—the minister will withdraw.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, Mr Speaker. I withdraw. The point of this story is: how could you trust this man to be Prime Minister of this country? His integrity must be in question when he condones the behaviour of the CFMEU thugs around the country. The Labor Party, under Bob Hawke, dealt with the BLF and they dealt with the thugs on building sites who were members of the BLF. This Leader of the Opposition is no Bob Hawke, and let me say: this Leader of the Opposition, as he's demonstrated every day to the Australian public, is unfit to be Prime Minister of this country.