Fleeing Gaza, Hundreds of Asylum Seekers in Australia Face Visa Expiry.
Hundreds of individuals who fled Gaza and arrived in Australia are now seeking asylum due to their short-term visitor visas nearing expiration or already having expired.
Last month, people of “Palestinian Authority” nationality emerged as the second largest group applying for protection in Australia, following China. Since October, at least 749 Palestinian Authority passport holders have entered Australia and requested asylum, coinciding with the federal government’s decision to issue tourist visas to those escaping Gaza.
Nasser Mashni, president of the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network, described these asylum applications as a desperate measure. “No Palestinian wants to leave Palestine. Most, if not all, Palestinians want to return home. These Palestinians who have fled Gaza are in desperate situations. It is incumbent upon Australia to provide them with the opportunity for safety and not add to their suffering,” Mashni said.
Mashni urged that Palestinians should receive similar treatment to other groups granted pathways in the past, such as Afghans and Ukrainians. “They have lost everything, and as human beings, we should offer them security and safety,” he added.
The federal government is currently evaluating longer-term solutions for the Palestinian cohort in Australia.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson criticized the government for “improperly” issuing tourist visas to those fleeing Gaza, suggesting that the government was aware these individuals had no intention of returning. “They should have been taken to a third country for thorough assessment, similar to the approach taken with Syria and Afghanistan, for security, identity, and refugee status,” Senator Paterson told Sky News.
Asylum Rates Compared: Palestinians vs. Ukrainians
Unlike the Coalition’s decision to grant three-year humanitarian visas to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion, the federal government has yet to establish a specific humanitarian visa for Palestinians from Gaza. Since the former Morrison government’s offer on March 20, 2022, nearly 11,400 Ukrainians have arrived in Australia on “temporary humanitarian stays.” Of these, at least 952 Ukrainians, or about 8%, have applied for permanent protection.
In contrast, about half the rate of Palestinians who have arrived since October have sought asylum. When their tourist visas expire, the only alternative available is to be placed on a bridging visa.
Political Dispute Over ASIO Remarks
Recent tensions between the government and opposition escalated following comments by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) boss Mike Burgess on ABC Insiders. Burgess had said that support for Hamas, if rhetorical and not indicative of violent extremism, should not necessarily prevent entry into Australia.
Burgess later clarified that his remarks were misrepresented, stating that supporting a Palestinian homeland alone should not be a barrier to entry. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton welcomed this clarification but reiterated accusations that Prime Minister Albanese misled Parliament by suggesting ASIO had vetted each individual, which was not the case.
Dutton criticized the Prime Minister for not apologizing to Burgess, while Albanese contended that Dutton was the only one criticizing the ASIO boss, suggesting that these debates were an attempt to undermine Burgess.
Senator Paterson questioned why the government had not clarified the distinction between support for Hamas and support for Palestinian statehood after a month of debate. “It is up to the government to state that supporting a terrorist organization violates the Migration Act’s character provisions, and we will not grant visas to those who support Hamas,” Senator Paterson told Sky News. He emphasized that such decisions are within the government’s purview, not ASIO’s.