Push to strengthen character test and deport criminals ‘hypocritical’

The Morrison government is pressuring Labor to back new laws making it harder for criminals to avoid deportation. The proposed laws would see people automatically fail the character test, including children, if convicted of a violent offence carrying a two years jail sentence. Labor MP Anika Wells told Sky news she is not throwing support behind the proposal, due to the hypocritical nature of strengthening the character test, and “still granting a visa to Raheem Kassam”. Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg commented on the national security at stake when strengthening section 501 of the migration act and said “5,000 people have been deported since 2014, which compares to just about 600 when Labor was in office”. The Liberal MP said he thinks it’s “perfectly reasonable” for people who are a threat to the Australian community to be removed. Image: Getty

from National | Daily Telegraph https://ift.tt/2Yt9uuK