Scott Buchholz (Wright, 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 visa holders, including criminal gangs?

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

I thank the member for Wright very much for his question. Like everybody on this side of the House, he's working very hard in his electorate to keep his community safe, and he should be commended for that. It's certainly the case that this government has cancelled a record number of—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

It's a very interesting interjection from the member for Grayndler, questioning the Labor Party's track record when they were in government—

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

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

The member for Isaacs has been warned.

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

because, as it turns out, under this government, we have increased the number of visa cancellations by 1,200 per cent for noncitizens who have committed serious crimes against Australian citizens. Under the Labor government many of those people who had committed serious crimes went on to become Australian citizens. So the difference in approach here, not only in relation to the cancellation of these visas but also on border protection matters, could be no more stark than in the example that I have provided. We have cancelled 150 visas of outlaw motorcycle gang members in total.

Opposition members interjecting—

Members of the CFMEU opposite are interjecting. They aren't in favour of the cancellation of visas of outlaw motorcycle gang members. That's quite a startling revelation from the member interjecting. Do you know why the CFMEU don't like the bikies being cancelled? Because they're the muscle on the building sites that are breaking the arms of the carpenters and the plumbers who refuse to sign their members up to the CFMEU. So what a surprise that members opposite would be against this! It goes to show just how much control the CFMEU and other militant unions have over this Leader of the Opposition. They have enormous power. Not Bob Hawke, not Kevin Rudd and not Julia Gillard—never in any circumstance could people point to the level of influence that is exerted over this Leader of the Opposition. And yet this man wants to be Prime Minister of this country. We know—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance.

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

The minister will come back to the dispatch box. In the time left he will confine himself to the substance of the question.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm asked about the cancellation of dangerous visa holders, including criminal gang members. As I say, there are 150 bikies whose visas we've cancelled—those involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs. They are the biggest distributors of ice and amphetamine in our country. To families in rural communities and cities around the country who are worried about the scourge of drugs on the streets, blame the outlaw motorcycle gang members. What do they do in their part-time work? They are involved in extortion and work on building sites, where they work for the CFMEU. The CFMEU is directly in control of this Leader of the Opposition, who wants to be Prime Minister of this country. It couldn't be any more direct. The fact is that this Leader of the Opposition, unlike any of his predecessors—

Mr Brian Mitchell interjecting—

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

The minister will pause a second. The member for Lyons will withdraw.

Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

And he can now do as I predicted earlier and leave the chamber. The minister has the call.

The member for Lyons then left the chamber.

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

In closing, there is a perfect exhibit—as he walks out of the chamber—of somebody who is completely controlled by the union movement, as is his—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on imputing a motive to a member of parliament—I ask that that comment be withdrawn.

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

Yes, the minister will withdraw.

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

I withdraw.