Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Murderers, rapists and paedophiles—84 non-Australian-citizens are at large on the streets of Australia, with 343 more set to be released into your neighbourhoods. The High Court made its decision last Wednesday. Releases were made just days after. These people—violent offenders, who have committed horrific crimes—are free in the community.

Only now has this government decided it would be a good idea to do something. And what's the solution they've put forward? Slap some ankle bracelets on them. It's too little, too late—especially now that we know the Labor government was warned about this in June. The government's first priority should be to keep its people safe. Instead, the government has misled and significantly let-down the Australian people. It disgusts me to think what could happen next. It disgusts me to think what a non-Australian man who killed a woman and her unborn child and blew up her body with explosives could do roaming free in our country. It disgusts me that a rape victim has been told her non-Australian rapist will not be detained or deported and is now out free in the community. This could have all been avoided. We've had all week to debate and pass legislation, which actually we've had since June. Instead, the Prime Minister has done nothing. And where is the Prime Minister now? He's not here to keep Australians safe from these murderers, rapists and paedophiles—he's overseas again. Australians deserve better.