The Prime Minister has accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of “nastiness” over the Coalition’s ongoing attacks on visas granted to Palestinians fleeing war-torn Gaza.
Domestic issues took a back seat yet again during Question Time on Wednesday, with the opposition throwing question after question at the government over the issue.
The Coalition accused the Albanese government of failing to carry out adequate checks.
But Anthony Albanese homed in on Mr Dutton, saying he “continually looks to pretend he’s so strong, but nastiness is not a strength.”
“Nastiness is not strength,” Mr Albanese said.
“And punching down on vulnerable people is not strength.
Wednesday’s barrage of questions follows reporting by Sky News that some of the 2922 visas granted to Palestinians fleeing Gaza were issued without manual checks.
Citing security sources, Sky reported that applicants’ names were checked against various watchlists but that they were not manually reviewed unless they triggered an alert.
Several Coalition MPs alleged fully-automated systems were used to vet Gazans seeking refuge.
“All visitor visa applications … are decided with the involvement of departmental staff – none are fully automated,” Anthony Albanese said, responding to a question from Liberal MP Angie Bell.
“I’m sure the member is aware, the Rafah border crossing is closed.
“Those opposite said nothing about these issues when the visas were actually being introduced.”
The Rafah crossing is the only way out of Gaza that does not go through Israel and was closed in November last year, about two months Israel’s incursion.
Mr Albanese said there were no visas currently being issued “because people can’t get out of the Rafah crossing” and that Coalition MPs “know that”.
He said the opposition was not pursuing questions on Gaza because it wanted “to get an answer”, but because it wanted to “sow doubt and to stoke division, and to create fear.”
“It exposes their political expediency because they don’t have an agenda,” Mr Albanese said.
Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and 1.9 million displaced in Gaza since Israel’s launched its offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal October 7 terrorist attacks.