Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minster for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Recent reports tell of a Lebanese man who was convicted of inappropriately touching a 15-year-old girl in Australia and has won the right to remain in the country. Lucien Daher visa's was cancelled by the government, but this was overturned last week by the Administrative Review Tribunal. What actions is the minister taking now to ensure Mr Daher's visa is cancelled and that a message is sent to all visa holders that you cannot come here and expect to stay if you commit sexual crimes against children?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Duniam, for the question. I don't have any specifics on that particular case, but I'll see what I can make available either during or after question time. Obviously, I'll also need to consider what information can be provided publicly about an individual.

You would be aware that we don't normally comment publicly on individual cases, but as Senator Duniam—and I'm sure the whole chamber—would be aware, this government has taken action in relation to previous practices and decisions of the AAT, as it was then known, to overturn cancellations of visas when those visas had been cancelled by ministers or departmental officials. The government took action—I think it was at least 12 months ago—to put in place a new ministerial direction that altered the circumstances that should be taken into account by the now ART when it's making these sorts of decisions. This has opened up opportunities for ministers to take action if the situation requires it. As I say, that's a general statement on these sorts of matters. If there is anything I can provide you on the specifics, I'll come back to you as quickly as I can.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, first supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The 15-year-old girl who was the victim of this crime has said that she's been left feeling scared, worried and worthless after Mr Daher's repeated crimes against her. Will the Minister for Home Affairs personally intervene under section 501 of the Migration Act to cancel this visa in the interest of Australians?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As follows from my first answer, again, whatever information I can put on the record, I will do so as quickly as I can. Again, I will make the point that this government has a very strong track record when it comes to the cancellation of visas. We all remember, in the last term, when our old friend Mr Dutton was still the leader of the opposition, it turned out that, for all the attacks that Mr Dutton and the opposition undertook against the government regarding visa cancellations, in fact our government cancelled significantly more visas than ever occurred when Mr Dutton was the Minister for Home Affairs.

I know, for many of you, 'Mr Peter Dutton' are three words you'd rather forget and not ever hear mentioned again, but the reality is this government has had a stronger record on visa cancellations than what occurred under the coalition when they had the opportunity to take action.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, a final supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My final question on this serious issue: Mr Daher was sentenced to a two-year correction order and fined for a crime that has left a young girl living in fear. How does the government reconcile this decision with its stated commitment to prioritising the safety of Australian children and the broader community?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Duniam is seeking specifics which I will answer if I can. It is worth remembering also that any case before the ART concerning a cancelled visa, by necessity, involves a decision made by a minister or department to cancel that visa. So without knowing the specifics of this individual case, what must have occurred is that a decision was made either by the minister or the department to cancel this individual's visa, demonstrating the view that the minister or the department had about that case. That was obviously then overturned by the ART. As I say, I will bring back any information that I can about the specific case. But to reinforce the point that I have made, under this government, in 2024-25, 85 visas were cancelled by ministers compared to 20 in the year 2021.