Albanese's failing leadership, page-223

Albo blasted for handing tourist visas out to Gazanrefugees

• 1d • 2 min read

• The PM was grilled by the Coalition during Question Time
• Refused to say how many Palestinian visas have been revoked

Anthony Albanese has refused to say whether any of the2900 visas given to Palestinian refugees have been cancelled after he cameunder fire for fast tracking the process.

The Prime Minister was blasted during Question Time onTuesday over his government's decision to grant thousands of tourist visas tothose fleeing war-torn Gaza sincethe Hamas attacks on October 7.

It comes after opposition leader PeterDutton last week made a call to ban Gazans from entering Australia overfears they might support the Palestinian terrorist group.

According to The Australian, 43 visas were revoked and 20 ofthose were restored on appeal.

Dan Tehan, the opposition's immigration spokesperson,fired off the same question repeatedly, asking: 'How many of the 2,900 visasfrom Gaza have been cancelled?'

1 / 11

USSecretary of State Antony Blinken, in Israel to push for a Gaza truce, todaydeclared ongoing negotiations were 'maybe the last' chance to reach anagreement to end the war. 'This is a decisive moment - probably the best, maybethe last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire and to puteveryone on a better path to enduring peace and security,' Blinken said as hemet Israeli President Isaac Herzog.©Anadolu via Getty Images

But Mr Albanese continually dodged the question, insteadinsisting Labor was guided by security agencies.

He also said a number of visas have been given to refugeesfleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan overthe years, despite the fact that those nations have also been controlled byterrorist groups.

Anthony Albanese is pictured during Question Time onTuesday, during his grilling over visas

'We’re being guided every step of the way by our securityagencies,' insisted the PM.

'What our agencies do is to constantly examine issues. Thatdoesn’t stop when someone is granted a visa.

'When it comes to the granting of a visa, they’re granted inthe same way [as under the Coalition government].

0View on Watch

'Our security agencies are involved, the same securitystandards.'

Labor has approved 2922 visas to Palestinians fleeing thewar, including more than 2500 tourist visas.

Many lodged claims for asylum which means they will be ableto stay in Australia until there is a decision on their application.

The Coaltion focused on visitor visas which they said wereof particular concern because they do not require the same security checks asthose for asylum seekers fleeing other war-torn nations.

Read more

Sponsored Content