MP doubles down on rejection of Dutton’s Gaza visa call

[Pelican Press 0]

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MP doubles down on rejection of Dutton’s Gaza visa call

Federal Independent MP Zali Steggall is standing by her view that calls for a ban on Palestinians fleeing war-torn Gaza is “*******”, in the face of possible legal action.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last week called for people leaving Gaza to be blocked from arriving in Australia until security vetting processes were tightened, claiming ********** sympathisers could be let into the country.

His comments were widely condemned by ******* and ************ advocacy groups.

Ms Steggall, who holds the NSW seat of Warringah, was heckled in parliament last week during a debate, before telling the opposition benches to “stop being *******”.

Asked about reports Mr Dutton was seeking legal advice about her comments, Ms Steggall doubled down.

“I would view that as again, true and tried part of the playbook of Mr Dutton of bullying and intimidating people from calling out his policy and behaviour,” she told ABC radio on Monday.

“I stand by (my view that) this policy proposal is inherently *******, and it’s designed to foster ***** and hatred of a ********* group.”

The crossbench MP said that “the sake of our social cohesion” it needed to be called out.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese once again labelled Mr Dutton “deeply divisive”.

“I was astounded that last week when we welcomed home our Olympians, a moment of national unity that once again showed that there’s no moment too big for him to show how small he is,” he said.

Mr Albanese said people weren’t able to leave Gaza, after the Rafah crossing was closed by ******** authorities.

Opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham rejected all claims Mr Dutton was trying to whip up *****.

“What we’re seeing from the prime minister and some of the teals like Zali Steggall – who all promised some sort of kinder, gentler politics – that they are really quite happy to play the man rather than the ball,” he told ABC radio.

“They are happy to go on personal attacks against Peter Dutton rather than focus on the policy debate here.”

Senator Birmingham said the coalition held the view that the strongest possible screening should be applied to ensure people resettling in Australia weren’t ********** sympathisers.

“Our view is that all should have full checking out of a situation in Gaza that is incredibly complex, that is a tragedy in terms of the loss of life that is occurring, but where also research indicates that there is significant community-wide support for ******,” he said.

Department of Home Affairs figures showed 7100 visas from Palestine had been rejected, and of the 2922 people approved 1300 had arrived safely in Australia.

More than 40,000 Palestinians have been ******* in *******’s ******** campaigns and ground offensives, according to the ******-controlled local health ministry.

Last week, Mr Dutton told Sky News “I don’t think people should be coming in from that war zone at all at the moment”.

“It’s not prudent to do so, and I think it puts our national security at risk.”

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#doubles #rejection #Duttons #Gaza #visa #call

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