Asylum seekers from Gaza shouldn’t be let in: Dutton

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Palestinians fleeing the war in Gaza shouldn’t be allowed to come to Australia because it puts our national security at risk, Peter Dutton says.

Peter Dutton 

The coalition has called on the Albanese government to strengthen security checks when granting visas to Palestinians to prevent Hamas supporters from entering the country.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said on Sunday that Palestinians who had expressed rhetorical support for the listed terror group wouldn’t automatically be barred.

The opposition leader said Australians would be shocked that people being brought in from a war zone would not undergo a security check by ASIO.

“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 our national security at risk,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

“If people are coming in from that war zone, and we’re uncertain about identity or their allegiances, Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation.

They’ve just committed an atrocity against the Jewish people.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Dutton was always trying to divide people.

“We take our advice from the director-general of ASIO and the security agencies, not from someone always looking for a fight, always looking for division,” he told ABC News.

By: Tess Ikonomou/AAP