Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Earlier this week, Australians learned through a national investigation by A Current Affair that an accused child sex offender from New Zealand is now living on the Sunshine Coast. This is a man who was charged in New Zealand with extremely serious sexual offences involving multiple alleged child victims over many years. Those matters were never tested in court after a New Zealand judge accepted medical evidence that he was too unwell to stand trial.

This gentleman was apparently on death's dark bed. Yet two years later we now see that he has travelled internationally and is living freely in Australia, which has caused deep concern in the community that I represent. Families on the Sunshine Coast are asking very simple questions. How did this happen? How was this individual able to enter Australia in the first place? Was the Department of Home Affairs aware of these serious allegations? Were appropriate character checks undertaken before he was granted entry?

Australians rightly expect that our visa system protects the community. The minister already has powers under the Migration Act to act on character grounds. Those powers should have been used. This individual's ability to stay in this country should be cancelled, and he should be removed from Australia. Community safety must always come first.