House debates Questions without Notice

National Security

Thursday, 14 September 2017 House of Representatives

Ian Goodenough

Ian Goodenough Moore, Liberal Party

2:44 pm

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the importance of protecting the Australian community from dangerous noncitizens? What action has the government taken? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The member for Moore will resume his seat. Members on my left will not continue to interrupt when I'm trying to hear the question. I am very happy to eject anyone who continues to interject, particularly those who have been warned or have been ejected under 94(a) on multiple occasions. I don't have a quota in mind; it's up to them. The member for Moore will begin his question again.

Ian Goodenough

Ian Goodenough Moore, Liberal Party

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the importance of protecting the Australian community from dangerous noncitizens? What action has the government taken? Is the minister aware of any other approaches?

Mr Tony Burke

Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance

Mr Speaker, reflections on the Deputy Prime Minister should be made by direct motion, not through a question. There should be a motion on the Notice Paper.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Manager of Opposition Business is warned.

Ms Plibersek interjecting

The member for Sydney has been warned. She will leave under 94(a).

The member for Sydney then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

2:46 pm

I thank the honourable member for his question. I'm not sure how many days it has been, but I congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on the anniversary of having knifed two former Prime Ministers, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. There must be some celebration upcoming for the Leader of the Opposition. There must be some sort of anniversary coming up for him. I note particular interest from the member for Grayndler on this topic.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection will come to the question he was asked.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

I thought it was a reasonable preamble, Mr Speaker. I want to thank the member for Moore for his question and say thank you very much to all of the members on this side of the House who have supported the tough changes that this government has made in relation to cancelling visas of noncitizens who have committed criminal offences against Australian citizens. I want to update the House on the fact that we have now cancelled 219 visas for armed robbery; 221 for theft, break and enter; 550 for assault; 54 for murder; 21 for manslaughter; 114 for rape and other sexual offences; over 200 for child pornography and child sex offences; and—this number will be of particular interest to those opposite—150 bikies. The Labor Party has an interest in bikies, as we know, because the outlaw motorcycle gang members provide the muscle for the CFMEU on building sites.

Anne Aly

Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party

Why don't you evict outlaw motorcycle clubs?

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The member for Cowan is warned.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

So the CFMEU is particularly concerned with the bikies being kicked out of this country and those people who have been involved in criminal activity. I note that for the benefit of the House.

Anne Aly

Anne Aly Cowan, Australian Labor Party

What about Aryan Nations?

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

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

The member for Cowan then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

I am asked about alternative approaches. It is impossible to get an alternative approach from what is known as the shadow minister for border protection and immigration in this House. He sips nervously on a glass of water right now. I don't normally get into question time until just on two o'clock, but I presume the sedation of the member for Blair takes place just before he comes into parliament or just after. He is wheeled in on a fridge trolley, as I understand it. Three or four times during question time, they take a pulse from the member for Blair to see whether he is still alive. He is the captain of—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection will resume his seat.

Mr Frydenberg interjecting

Mr Pyne interjecting

The Minister for the Environment and Energy will cease interjecting, as will the Leader of the House. The member for Grayndler, on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

Reflections on members. That crossed the line.

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection will be careful with his language. He won't reflect on members.

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection

Let's celebrate anniversaries. Today is the 418th day since the member for Blair asked a question on border protection matters. Is it because he doesn't understand the topic? I don't think so. He is an educated man. He is a decent person. But he is in witness protection. He is the man who is not allowed to ask questions on border protection because, like all of us and the whole Australian population, he knows that this Leader of the Opposition is weak when it comes to border protection. He does not want to talk about boats; he doesn't want to talk about visa cancellations; and the Australian public has worked him out. (Time expired)