Greens Defence Minister and Immigration spokesman David Shoebridge has criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for “despicable” comments regarding Palestinian security checks.
“I would trust ASIO to do security checks before I trust Peter Dutton to do security checks … they know what they’re doing, Peter Dutton doesn’t,” Mr Shoebridge said.
“It is an extraordinary proposition that you close the door to people seeking asylum right at the moment they desperately need asylum.
“I can’t imagine any other political leader going over and seeing a horrific conflict … no one would debate it’s a horrific conflict with two and a half million people in the most appalling circumstances you could imagine, thousands and thousands and thousands being killed.
“Who would go and see that and say we’re going to accept nobody, no asylum seekers?
“I think it’s nasty, nasty politics – he’s dog-whistling to a part of the electorate at a time when he should be showing leadership.”
