The government is rejecting the majority of visa applications by Palestinians fleeing Gaza, new Home Affairs figures show.
Since the , the government has rejected 7,111 visa applications from Palestinians and granted 2,922, as of 12 August. About 1,300 of those with approved visas have resettled in Australia.
There have been 8,746 visas granted to Israeli citizens while 235 visa applications were rejected over the same period.
The majority of the visas to Palestinians were granted early in the latest escalation of the conflict: Home Affairs have granted 236 visas and rejected 2,467 applications since 27 May.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has defended the process for approving visas into Australia. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Immigration and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed the updated figures in Question Time on Wednesday as he faced questions over whether applicants were being screened for affiliations with the terrorist organisation Hamas.
The visa figures have drawn criticism from the Greens, with Senator David Shoebridge reminding the government that applicants were escaping a “violent” war zone.
“The Albanese Government has refused to provide people here the right to work, access to Medicare, study or basic support,” he said on X, referring to the predominantly tourist visas granted.
“Now they are stopping family members and people escaping violence from seeking safety. Shame.”
Peter Dutton calls for ban on visas
The scrutiny follows comments by Opposition leader Peter Dutton who has drawn, claiming they pose a national security risk.
On Thursday morning, Dutton contrasted current checks and balances against those a Coalition government had in place for Syrian refugees in 2017, when he was Home Affairs Minister.
“We did face-to-face interviews, we took biometrics tests, and we checked that with our American partners,” he said on Today.
“The government has done none of that, and I’m sure the vast majority of these people are just innocent people fleeing a war zone but our country’s best interest is served when we know who is coming here.”
In parliament, independent MP Zali Stegall said were concerning and incited community fear.
“These are families that you are seeking to paint that somehow they are all terrorists, that they should all be mistrusted and not worthy, that they are not worthy of humanitarian aid,” she said on Thursday.
But Dutton doubled down on his remarks, saying his stance was not targeted at people of particular religious or political beliefs.
“This is about keeping our country safe,” he told parliament.
Burke on Wednesday defended ASIO’s screening process Question Time, saying that every applicant was checked against a watch list that was updated every 24 hours.
“There is a process which ASIO is involved with, which applies to every single visa … whether you come from the United States or whether you come from the Gaza Strip,” he said.
