Mr. Katsambanis questions the Premier about WA Labor's stance on reducing the federal minister's power to suspend visas of criminals. The Premier deflects, questioning Mr. Katsambanis's past role in a migration review tribunal case.

AnsweredQoN 732Legislative Assembly
Asked
4 September 2019
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

CRIMINALS — VISA
SUSPENSIONS — WA LABOR
732. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I refer to the chapter 8 motion that
was passed at Labor's recent chaotic and divided state conference. Can
the Premier confirm that WA Labor now supports reducing the powers of the
federal minister to suspend the visa of known bikies, paedophiles and organised
criminals?

AnswerView source ↗

I am unaware of what chapter 8 is,
and I do not know what the member is referring to, but I do know that we work
cooperatively with the federal government to ensure deportation in certain
circumstances, particularly when people might be released from prison who might
have come from another country. The Attorney General and the Minister for
Police work cooperatively with the federal government on that issue regularly.
I counselled the member yesterday about raising these issues in light of what
occurred in Victoria when he was on the Migration Review Tribunal. I do not
think he should be the person raising these issues, considering the diabolical
thing that occurred when he was on the Migration Review Tribunal, what occurred
with a person who he allowed to stay in this country and what they subsequently
did.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : That was
10 years later.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Okay, it was
10 years ago.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Hillarys.
Mr M. McGOWAN : All I am
saying to the member for Hillarys, and I have not proactively raised this —
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Hillarys!
Mr M. McGOWAN : — but
he continues to raise these issues. All I will say to the member is that if I were
someone who was on a migration review tribunal and allowed someone to stay in
this country who then murdered two people, I would not be raising these issues.

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