Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was only yesterday that I was here in this chamber remarking on the complete and utter dereliction of responsibility of this government in relation to the safety and security of Australians—of Western Australians, as it turns out—by releasing 80 and possibly well over 300 people who had their visas denied and were in detention because they had not met character grounds here in Australia. They include murderers, rapists, serious criminals and, I understand, terrorists as well.

This is not a new issue. The government had plenty of warning, and yet the Minister for Home Affairs and the Attorney-General were asleep at the wheel—except for the immigration minister, who managed to unfurl the red carpet and release them without even waiting for the High Court's decision. He unfurled the red carpet, organised plane tickets and released over 30 people in Western Australia. We had all of these promises and guarantees that they were going to be secure and Western Australians would be safe. But good on the West Australian! They went to the motel on the outskirts of Perth to see the great security around these former detainees. And, sure enough, there was not a policeman, a guard or anything. In fact, within a couple of hours they'd managed to source a car and were driving around Perth doing drugs and God knows whatever else. So much for this government's ability to keep Australians safe! Shame on you. All Western Australians should be so angry at what you have failed to do. (Time expired)