Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has repeatedly been singled out by the Coalition as the weakest link in the Albanese ministry over his handling of the disastrous High Court decision to free 149 asylum seeker detainees into the community.
But Mr Giles – with a Taylor Swift friendship bracelet dangling around his arm – couldn’t help but crack a smile on Thursday afternoon, when he had the last laugh over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
It was looking like the grimmest Question Time so far for Giles, a Labor Left former lawyer who previously represented refugees, after Victoria Police announced they had charged a released repeat rapist with sexual assault and stalking offences.
The arrest, of a kind the Albanese government has been dreading, sparked uproar in Parliament and culminated with Mr Dutton calling for Mr Giles to lose his job and describing him as a ‘disaster’.
‘Prime Minister, the immigration minister is a disaster,’ Mr Dutton thundered.
‘When will you show leadership, stop being so weak and sack this minister?’
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has been singled out by the Coalition as the weakest link in the Albanese ministry, but as the sitting week drew to a close on Thursday afternoon, he had the last laugh
Mr Giles was wearing a very fitting Taylor Swift friendship bracelet with an uplifting message from one of her songs: ‘Shake it Off’
The PM was unwavering in his support, just as Mr Giles was unwavering in his decision not to engage in discussions about the allegations against the individual
In the months since the November 8 High Court decision, Mr Giles has been repeatedly described as ‘incompetent’ and ‘ineffective’ by the Opposition.
Since the decision, the Opposition targets Mr Giles in most sessions of Question Time – viewing the softly-spoken MP as an easy target.
The PM refused to give in to the demand to sack Mr Giles on Tuesday and the Minister, wearing a bracelet that said ‘Shake It off’, used the premise that court proceedings were still unfolding to dodge the question.
‘I want to be very clear – and I think all members will appreciate this – I am not in a position to, and I will not, comment on any individual case, because I will not risk prejudicing any court proceedings,’ he said.
Pressed on the matter further, he said: ‘With respect to this case, and as I’ve already answered, I am not in a position to comment on the individual case.’ Off’.
Across the chamber, the Coalition jeered. They argued the n public expected, and deserved, an explanation as to why the man wasn’t already redetained under legislation which gives the minister the power to protect the community from people at high risk of reoffending.
Indeed, the then-alleged offender, from Papua New Guinea, had a track record of horrific assaults – first jailed in 2008 for entering the homes of women in Queensland three times in 2008, and indecently touching one.
He also raped a woman in Melbourne in 2012, earning him a second four year stint in jail, before being transferred to immigration detention.
Giles kept his composure during the withering attacks, offering short answers reminding those opposite his answers were a reflection of the law.
Mr Giles worked as a lawyer and acted as a solicitor representing 433 asylum seekers trying to get to n territory aboard the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa in 2001, prior to entering parliament
Mr Giles worked as a lawyer and acted as a solicitor representing 433 asylum seekers trying to get to n territory aboard the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa in 2001, prior to entering parliament.
Part of the reason he’s been identified as such an easy target for the Coalition is that he has been outspoken – for years – about his position on asylum seekers and refugees.
Mr Giles, who was elected as the Labor MP representing the north Melbourne electorate of Scullin in 2013, said this experience convinced him to run for office.
‘Before September 2001, I had not given much thought to ‘s policies in relation to asylum seekers or the politics of this question,’ he told parliament in 2014.
‘I suspect I am not alone. Since then, it has been very different. The arrival of the people on the MV Tampa in n waters clearly represented a watershed moment in n politics and society.
‘In 2001, I was a small part of the legal team that acted on behalf of the asylum seekers on the Tampa. This involvement, more than anything else, led me towards seeking election to this place.
‘We shouldn’t forget the story of the Tampa, in all its dimensions. It changed me as a young lawyer acting on behalf of refugees.’
Several hours after the PM abruptly ended Question Time, Mr Giles’ approach was vindicated
Following Thursday’s mishap, one Labor insider told Daily Mail ‘he’s just a genuine guy’.
‘To have what happened yesterday thrown in his face, it’s a farce really. He did the right thing.’
Several hours after the PM abruptly ended Question Time, Mr Giles’ approach to the session vindicated.
Victoria Police released a statement revealing they had got it wrong, and that all charges against the 44-year-old suspect were being dropped.
‘Police arrested a man last night as part of their investigation into two incidents in Richmond on 27 February.
‘Police have since notified the Richmond man’s legal representation and the process has commenced to formally withdraw the charges.
‘Detectives today returned to an address in Richmond and identified a man on CCTV who they now believe is the person who was involved in the incidents. That man has not been arrested at this time.’
The investigation is ongoing.
Mr Albanese on Friday morning criticised the Coalition’s approach to the arrest, stating ‘police and authorities should be allowed to do their job free of this pre-emptive political game playing’.
‘I’m waiting for Peter Dutton to take responsibility for the debacle yesterday where he made completely false accusations against ministers.’
Immigration has been a key battleground in byelection in the critical Victorian seat of Dunkley – with right-wing campaign group Advance running ads about the number of rapists released after the High Court decision.
Mr Dutton said the issue around the charges was ‘certainly regrettable, and the Victoria Police have addressed that.
‘But look, in the end, as we know in Victoria here, including here in Dunkley, crime is a huge issue.
‘And I think one of the frustrations I suspect that Victoria Police have got is that their efforts are distracted away from the local response that the community here demands to apply resources to what’s a monumental stuff-up by the Government of releasing 149 hardened criminals, including sex offenders.’