Nat Barr has confronted the home affairs minister over Andrew Giles’ latest ministerial decision that has seen several violent rapists stay in the country.
The Sunrise host was left stunned on Wednesday morning when Clare O’Neil defended Immigration Minister Mr Giles despite calls mounting for him to be sacked.
Several criminal migrants have been allowed to stay in Australia under his Direction 99, which was issued early last year.
The direction requires the immigration minister or a body, including the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, to consider an individual’s community ties when considering to revoke the cancellation of a convicted criminal’s visa.
Ms O’Neil argued the decisions were made by the AAT and that Mr Giles had ‘stepped in at the right time’ to try and resolve the issue and re-cancel their visas.
Barr was left visibly shocked by the statement and questioned how rapists could be allowed to stay in the first place.
‘He stepped in at the right moment.. A lot of people would dispute that. He put in this direction, this ministerial direction last January. Then people raped children,’ she said.
‘They then used the laws, this direction that was put in by your Government and argued that they had ties to this country, their families needed them and their families love them.
‘They used that direction to stay in this country. So do you think it’s maybe too late that Andrew Giles is acting now?’
More to come
