THE HON SHADOW MINISTER MP
SENATOR THE HON. KRISTINA KENEALLY
DEPUTY LABOR LEADER IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
 
FOUR YEARS FOR PETER DUTTON TO INTRODUCE A TEO SCHEME
 
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton must explain why he has waited four years to introduce a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) scheme in Australia.
 
              “We are working through national security legislation as quickly as possible.”
              Mathias Cormann, ABC AM, 22 July 2019
 
The United Kingdom TEO scheme – which Mr Dutton so frequently cites – was introduced in 2015 however Mr Dutton didn’t introduce similar legislation in Australia until February 2019.
 
Would Mr Dutton be willing to say he was working “as quickly as possible” when it took him four years to introduce TEO legislation?
 
During the four years Mr Dutton waited to introduce the TEO legislation, it’s reported 40 foreign fighters have returned to Australia.
 
These 40 foreign fighters have only been able to return because the Home Affairs Minister failed to introduce legislation for four years. Was it incompetence or apathy towards the risks of foreign fighters by Minister Dutton that saw him do nothing during this time?
 
Labor has already expressed its support for the intent of the TEO scheme, and agreed with the Liberal-dominated PJCIS that its recommended changes be incorporated into the legislation.
 
Labor wants a TEO scheme that works, is constitutional, keeps Australians safe and that withstands High Court challenges.