This time next week, everyone will be unwrapping presents and enjoying the festive season, and that’s a good thing. All right, back we go to Bondi to talk about the fact that the Opposition has established a task force to deal with antisemitism, extremism, and counterterrorism, and the Shadow Minister for Immigration, Senator Paul Scarr, is on the line. Senator, good morning. Thanks for your time.
Senator Scarr
Good morning, Matthew, to you and your listeners.
Matthew Pantelis
What do you hope this committee will do in Opposition? What are you hoping to achieve?
Senator Scarr
We are in Opposition, but that doesn’t mean we don’t act. I think we’ve got to act. All Australians need to act, especially those of us who serve in Australia’s Parliament. So, the priority of the task force is to push for the full implementation of 100% of the recommendations made by the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. She gave her report to the government in mid‑July. There are forty-nine recommendations, and some of those recommendations relate to migration policy. Every single one of them needs to be implemented in full.
Matthew Pantelis
So, you agree with any of them? We should be putting them all in, no changes, just as they are?
Senator Scarr
Absolutely as they are, and I’ve gone through each one of them. Your listeners can go online and read the Special Envoy’s report. They can read the objectives behind each recommendation, and they should be implemented without delay.
Matthew Pantelis
It’s only sixteen pages long. It’s not a big report, is it? But comprehensive. I had a look at it on Monday when we spoke to her on the show. She says she’s been collaborating with Ministers. The Government has had this, as you say, for five months. Are they slow in implementing it? Or has there been a lot of work behind the scenes, as they’ve been saying—and certainly she indicated that?
Senator Scarr
No doubt there has been work behind the scenes, but in the migration space, there are several recommendations which I think are highly relevant. And the first is that the Migration Act must effectively support visa refusals and cancellations for antisemitic conduct or rhetoric. That means our legislation governing the granting and cancellation of visas needs to be strengthened to ensure that when people engage in antisemitic rhetoric or conduct, their visas can be cancelled, and they can be deported.
Matthew Pantelis
So that would capture people at some of the worst protests we’ve seen over the last couple of years?
Senator Scarr
People who are displaying terrorist symbols or photographs of dictators from places like Iran, absolutely it would capture those people, and it should. Your listeners may not be aware of this, but when people apply for temporary or provisional visas, or for permanent residency, they sign an undertaking to obey Australian laws and conduct themselves in accordance with Australian values. We need to enforce those undertakings. It is unacceptable for people to be flying terrorist symbols down our streets.
Matthew Pantelis
I don’t think there’s any argument with that. The fact that we are talking about gun control, and John Howard mentioned this, Josh Frydenberg certainly yesterday, your Leader as well, is it a smokescreen? Do you believe gun reform is a smokescreen for the real game, which is what you’ve been talking about this morning?
Senator Scarr
I think we’ve got to focus on the real game, which is the Special Envoy’s report on combating antisemitism. That is the main game. There are legitimate questions that need to be asked in relation to a non‑Australian citizen having the capacity to possess six high‑powered firearms. There are legitimate questions, especially given that from what we’ve heard during the week, the son was on a list in 2019… was on a watch list. So yes, legitimate questions do arise, but the focus must be implementing the forty-nine recommendations she made. Also include appropriate screening of visa applicants, so at the border when people seek to come into our country, they should be screened for antisemitic views or affiliations on a risk‑based approach, so we can prevent people from entering who hold these views or intend to walk down our streets carrying terror symbols. It is simply unacceptable.
Matthew Pantelis
Now, in New South Wales, the Premier is recalling Parliament to consider issues including tightening protest laws and gun laws. Should Federal Parliament be recalled considering some of these issues?
Senator Scarr
Matthew, I strongly believe we should recall Federal Parliament, if for nothing else, to come together as a nation to recognise that what we saw on Sunday was an absolute tragedy. It’s impossible to put into words. I was at Bondi on Tuesday paying my respects with hundreds of Australians, and the grief is overwhelming. At a time like this, we should recall Parliament and look at what we can do in the short term to implement an appropriate response.
Matthew Pantelis
So, this committee, the Counter Terrorism Task Force you’ve set up. When will it meet? Next week?
Senator Scarr
It’s already met, Matthew. The meetings have already begun. I had discussions with my senior cabinet colleague, Senator Jonno Duniam, who is doing a sterling job. We discussed areas relating to migration policy, which also fall within the Home Affairs portfolio. The work has already started.
Matthew Pantelis
You talk about visa applicants signing an undertaking to conduct themselves in accordance with Australian values. One of these people was an Australian citizen, as I understand it, is that not correct?
Senator Scarr
That is right, the son, in terms of his citizenship.
Matthew Pantelis
So signing a piece of paper is meaningless if someone is misguided through radical teachings or whatever and goes out to kill people. What’s a piece of paper going to do?
Senator Scarr
It shouldn’t just be a piece of paper. That’s the point, it shouldn’t just be a piece of paper. When people come to this country and sign that undertaking, it must have force and effect. If you don’t conduct yourself in accordance with Australian values, if you walk down a street carrying a terrorist symbol, then that should constitute a breach of your visa conditions, and you should be deported. There’s no place for you here. These undertakings must have teeth; they cannot just be symbolic. That is why the Special Envoy recommended that the Migration Act be reviewed and strengthened so these undertakings have practical consequences.
Matthew Pantelis
Would you look, when Parliament returns next year, to putting forward a private member’s bill to change the Migration Act, if the government doesn’t act? We’ve heard little about what they intend to do, apart from saying there is no tolerance for antisemitism. Would you put forward such a bill?
Senator Scarr
We are in the process, this task force has met, and we are discussing actual, concrete actions.
Matthew Pantelis
All right, we’ll see where that goes. Senator Paul Scarr, thanks for your time.
Senator Scarr
Thanks, Matthew. Can I just wish all your listeners a Merry Christmas. I was at Ipswich Assist, in my home state of Queensland, handing out Christmas hampers. At this time of year, more than any other, we’ve really got to wrap our arms around each other and remember the true meaning of Christmas.
