‘One question’: Angry Albo shuts down reporter
Anthony Albanese has shut down a reporter after being asked about his government’s controversial migration reforms rushed through parliament overnight.
The Prime Minister was keen to spruik the hasty passage of 31 bills in a Friday morning press conference but struck a markedly different tone when asked about the new migration powers.
“Mr Albanese, on migration, how soon do you intend to strike a third country reception arrangement?” a Press Gallery reporter asked.
“Which countries could we pay to take non-citizens from Australia? And will you guarantee that you’ll only do such deals with signatories of the Refugee Convention?”
Mr Albanese replied: “We’ll implement our legislation.”
When the reporter fired off a follow-up, Mr Albanese shut him down, saying: “You get one question.”
The trio of migration laws massively expand government powers, allowing it, among other things, to deport non-citizens to third countries in exchange for cash.
Deportees would not get any guarantee they would not face harm in the third country, and the government would have legal immunity if any harm came to them.
This means someone could be deported to a country where they may face persecution and the government could not be sued.
Lawyers, the human rights watchdog and advocates have condemned the new laws.
Asked by another reporter about claims that his government has “abandoned multicultural communities”, Mr Albanese dismissed the criticisms.
“We support our multicultural communities each and every day,” he said.
“We are a government that wants an inclusive Australia that stands up for that, but we understand as well that our migration system needs to be robust and needs to not be manipulated.”