In January this year, Christine Nixon, AO, APM, was appointed to undertake a Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System that found “abuses of sexual exploitation, human trafficking and other organised crime” in Australia’s immigration system.
The Review identified significant gaps and weaknesses in Australia’s visa system — a system Peter Dutton personally oversaw for six years.
“It is clear that gaps and weaknesses in Australia’s visa system are allowing this to happen,” Ms Nixon said.
The Albanese Labor Government inherited a broken immigration system where abuse of Australia’s visa system ran rampant.
Peter Dutton presented himself as a tough guy who secured our border and kept Australia safe.
But as the findings in the Review show, the reality is that under his watch criminals were abusing Australia’s visa system – and Peter Dutton turned a blind eye.
This is clearly demonstrated by a near 50 per cent reduction in the number of compliance officers in the nine years to 2022/23.
The Albanese Labor Government will not turn a blind eye to the exploitation of Australia’s visa system.
These problems are systemic and will take time to fix, but today’s announcement demonstrates clear action to clean up Peter Dutton’s mess.
With increased resourcing of $50 million, the Albanese Labor Government will establish a new Division within the Department of Home Affairs to re-prioritise immigration compliance and protect the integrity of the visa and migration system.
This Division will target the organised abuse of immigration programs, work to resolve the immigration status of those people whose onshore visa options have been exhausted and improve protections for vulnerable migrants.
