Opposition's Reaction to Australian Prime Minister's Call for Visa Checks on Palestinians from Gaza

According to SBS News, opposition leader Dutton wrote in a letter calling for security checks on Palestinians coming from Gaza and granting visas based on the results. Dutton stated, 'We cannot know who is who without conducting a security check.' Prime Minister Albanese responded to Dutton's statements in a press release. Albanese said, 'What is Peter Dutton doing? He is not discussing issues that concern Australians. What he is doing is instilling a sense of fear.' The Labor Party, Greens Party, and various Palestinian supporter groups in the country also reacted to Peter Dutton's statements about Palestinians. The opposition leader of the Liberal Party, Dutton, said in an interview last week that he does not think it is right for people to come from that war zone, referring to Gaza. Dutton claimed that accepting visa applications from Gaza would not be 'wise' and 'puts our national security at risk.' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who criticized Dutton's statements, said that the opposition leader is once again aiming to 'divide.' According to official data in Australia, out of approximately 10,000 visa applications from Palestinian citizens since October 7, 2023, only 2,922 were approved, and around 1,300 of them entered the country.