Peter Dutton has demanded the Albanese government refuse all visa applications from Gaza, claiming anyone leaving the war-torn Palestinian territory could threaten Australia’s national security.
Coalition MPs wrote to Tony Burke on Tuesday calling on the newly-appointed home affairs minister to tighten visa vetting for applicants from Gaza to ensure they held no rhetorical support for Palestinian militant group Hamas.
But Mr Dutton went a step further.
![QT](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/84843ed42de4a5cd294c4f640b1b49ae9eb65ec5.jpg)
“I don’t think people should be coming in through that war zone at all at the moment,” the opposition leader told Sky News.
“It puts our national security at risk.”
Mr Dutton’s comments come as the government looks to set up a permanent visa scheme for Palestinian refugees.
Current vetting rules could see a visa applicant rejected if they are found to have given financial or material support to Hamas, a listed terrorist organisation which has governed Gaza since 2007.
More to come.