Concerns over visas
"Department of Home Affairs officials admitted in Senate estimates last month that on average these visas were granted in 24 hours," says Shadow Home Affairs MinisterJames Paterson.
The granting of Australian visas to Palestinians fleeing Gaza has attracted both concern and support.
Some of them had visas granted, then cancelled – sometimes when they were on a plane headed for Australia – and then reinstated.
Liberal Senator James Paterson, shadow Home Affairs minister, said the rushed process for granting visas to Gaza residents is a major source of concern.
“Department of Home Affairs officials admitted in Senate estimates last month that on average these visas were granted in 24 hours, and in some instances were granted in as little as one hour. It is very difficult to understand how you could do an adequate identity or security check on a visa applicant from a warzone run by a terrorist organisation so quickly.” he said.
Paterson said it is hardly surprising that the government was forced to subsequently cancel some of those visas, despite assuring the public all necessary checks were done before they were granted.
Robert Gregory, CEO of the right-leaning Australian Jewish Association said his group is concerned that the government is risking Australia’s national security by rushing the visas through without taking the necessary security checks.
“With polling showing that the overwhelming majority of Gazans support the horrific atrocities of October 7, Australia is importing a ticking time bomb. Statistically, we are bringing in many supporters of terrorism and potentially some members of proscribed terrorist groups” he said..
Gregory said the AJA is very concerned about what this means for the Australian Jewish community which is already suffering from unprecedented antisemitism.
But Rabbi Ralph Genende, the Interfaith and Community Liasion for the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Committee (AIJAC) believes the Jewish community needs to temper the fear that they could be Hamas supporters with compassion for the suffering of Palestinians who are caught up in the war.
“As long as our Australian authorities are vigilant in their background checks to ensure those coming are not Hamas members, we should not have a knee jerk reaction. Jewish tradition is about compassion for human suffering and respect for all created in the Divine image” Genende said.
He said, “We Jews know what suffering is about and can feel for the innocent Palestinians who are being cynically used by Hamas and in need of relief and protection”.
And Michael Chaitow, Executive Director of the left leaning New Israel Fund (NIF) Australia said if the necessary security checks have been done, then those people should be allowed to leave the region and find safety here.
“It is well documented that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that there is a need to respond to the critical situation on the ground” he said.
Chaitow said NIF will always strive to support a diplomatic solution to this conflict that sees the immediate return of the hostages and an end to all fighting to protect the lives of those living in the region.
comments