August 18th 2024.
The ongoing political debate surrounding refugees fleeing from Gaza to Australia has seen Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirming his support for ASIO and the country's security measures. This comes amidst opposition leader Peter Dutton's proposal to ban refugees from Gaza, citing concerns over the vetting process.
During a visit to the Ferragosto festival in Sydney's inner west, Albanese criticized Dutton for using the issue for political gain. He emphasized the importance of valuing and celebrating Australia's multiculturalism, rather than using it as a political pawn.
According to Senate Estimates from May, Australia has granted over 2600 visas to Palestinians and rejected 4600 more since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. However, only about 1300 of these refugees have actually arrived and remain in the country, with the Gaza borders remaining closed.
In light of this, the opposition is calling for stricter measures, including checks on refugees already in Australia and face-to-face interviews for future applicants. Nationals leader David Littleproud stated that while they are prepared to show compassion, they want to ensure that these refugees can continue to enjoy the Australian lifestyle.
Despite no specific offences or crimes being attributed to Gaza refugees, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess's statement that expressing support for Hamas would not automatically disqualify someone from entering Australia has been heavily politicized. This has become a prominent talking point in the debate.
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