Michaelia Cash and Mark Dreyfus have reportedly clashed during discussions over the religious discrimination Bill

Senior Liberal frontbencher Michaelia Cash has accused the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus of aggressive behaviour during a discussion over the government’s contentious religious discrimination legislation.

The pair had met in the Attorney-General’s office to discuss the Bill, when tempers reportedly flared.

“I was appalled by Mr Dreyfus’s behaviour. Mr Dreyfus needs to stop playing games with his religious discrimination legislation,” Senator Cash said.

“As I told Mr Dreyfus he needs to take on board the feedback he has received from the faith communities and release his legislation publicly.”

Mr Dreyfus’ officer has denied the claims saying, “the Attorney-General did not raise his voice and at no point was aggressive or demeaning.”

Giles faces another Question Time grilling

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has faced a grilling in Question Time on Tuesday, as he comes under fire to explain how violent former immigration detainees, who had their visas cancelled by the government, were allowed to stay in Australia.

Citing the example of one man – known as CHCY – who had his visa cancelled after he was convicted of raping his stepdaughter, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton questioned why Labor had “watered down” the law to allow him to remain in Australia.

The decision was overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, referring to “Direction 99”, allowing the non-citizen to remain in the country based on his history with Australia.

Mr Dutton asked Mr Giles when he would apologise for the “catastrophic mistake, and reverse direction 99?”

In response, Mr Giles said community safety remains the government’s “highest priority”, and sought to remind the Opposition of where the government stood on the matter.

“I believe this is a visa that should still be cancelled,” he said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley was next up, and asked for answers about why a Sudanese national, whose visa was cancelled after being convicted of serious domestic violence offences, was allowed to remain in the country.

The AAT similarly overturned that cancellation. That man, Emmanuel Saki, has been charged with murdering a 22-year-old in Brisbane. 

Mr Giles reiterated what he had said to Mr Dutton.

“It was a decision of the AAT, an independent tribunal, to overturn the cancellation of the visa, and I remind the house that the direction places a serious emphasis on family violence,” Mr Giles said.

“I have cancelled the individual’s visa, and as this matter is before the courts, I will say nothing about this matter.”

Unhappy with Mr Giles’ response, Mr Dutton queried why the minister did not “step in, intervene, and cancel” Saki’s visa.

Mr Giles said his department had cancelled the man’s visa in accordance with direction 99, but conceded a number of cases were not raised with him by his department. He said the department was now looking at “all these cases as a priority”.

“They are all under cancellation consideration,” he said.

‘Personal privacy violated’, public servant

A senior public servant has complained of a “repeated violation” of his personal privacy, related to scrutiny over his relationship with his former deputy secretary.

Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Rob Stefanic was critical of media coverage of his relationship with Cate Saunders during senate estimates on Tuesday morning.

During questions over whether the pair were in a relationship when Ms Saunders was given a $315,000 exit package, Mr Stefanic told the senate he had “acted appropriately at all times”.

“(I have) unsuccessfully tried to communicate to members of the media, that I’ve taken all reasonable steps to declare all conflicts of interest as appropriate,” he said.

He initially said it was “simply not relevant” whether or not the pair where in a relationship while she was employed at DPS between December 2017 and October 2023.

He later said he was not in a relationship with Ms Saunders while he was her boss, and the pair were not romantically involved when she was appointed deputy.

Mr Stefanic also dismissed claims of toxic culture, after reports emerged public servants had described routine cover-ups and silencing.

He said he had seen no evidence of the claims, aired by the ABC.

“No evidence has been provided as to what those issues actually are apart from hearsay,” he said.

“The DPS staff census since 2016 has been on an upward trajectory on all its measures.

“That is not reflective of an agency that has a toxic culture or issues to the extent that are just thrown around liberally without any basis or evidence.”

Earlier, in the same committee, the Senate clerk said advice circulated by the Prime Minister’s Office on obfuscating questions during estimates was contrary to “the freest possible flow of information”.

Liberal senator Simon Birmingham asked Richard Pye about a leaked document which provided advice and templates to departments and ministerial offices on how to answer questions on notice.

The document urges departments to rely on publicly available information to answer questions, or refer to previous questions on notice, or other agencies.

Mr Pye said he disagreed with some of the advice in the document.

“I thought it had some useful parts but I think it also provided some advice that I wouldn’t have provided myself,” Mr Pye said.

“I think it’s lovely that someone thinks to put together a template that people can use to answer questions where questions are asked of all departments and agencies, which is something that is quite common.

“I don’t think that instructions that suggest being vague are useful instructions and I think there were some examples being given within that document that suggested people be less clear than perhaps they could be.”

‘Distressing’: MPs speak out after Gaza strike

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called an Israeli air strike on a makeshift refugee camp “horrific” and “unacceptable” after reiterating Labor’s calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.

At least 45 people have been killed and hundreds have been wounded after Israel’s military struck an area in the southern Gazan city of Rafah on Monday, according to Palestinian officials.

In a post on X, Senator Wong said that Australia had been “very clear” in its opposition to Israel’s military offensive calling for the protection of civilians.

“Australia has been very clear that Israel must not proceed with is operation in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are sheltering,” she said.

“Hamas must release all hostages and stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killings of civilians was “a tragic accident” and said Israel was investigating the strike. 

Meanwhile, Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt has defended the government’s stance on the war in Gaza as divisions within the government intensify in the aftermath of the incident.

His comments come a day after his Labor colleague Fatima Payman escalated her remarks on the conflict after she broke ranks to accuse Israel of genocide, demanding her cease stop trade with the country and recognise a Palestinian state.

“We’re now at a point where more than half of Gaza’s people are sheltering in Rafah and these latest reports of casualties are deeply distressing so I can understand people being extremely upset,” Senator Watt told ABC’s Radio National.

“I think Australia has exercised our moral position very effectively … and we want to see the actions in Rafah stop.”

Coalition wants detail on DV rapid review

The federal government has announced a $1.3m ‘rapid review’ into domestic violence prevention following a wave of national outrage over gender-based violence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has tasked a group of experts, including women’s rights pioneer Dr Anne Summers and journalist Jess Hill, to examine how the government can improve its response to gendered violence.

“Violence against women is a national crisis and it needs to end. We recognise that governments need to act, but we also recognise that this is an issue for the whole of society,” Mr Albanese said.

The opposition has welcomed the formation of the expert panel but has called for a set date for its final report, which is due by the end of this year.

“Refusing to provide a clear reporting date is simply not acceptable given how vital this work will be to save the lives of women and children in our communities,” Opposition spokesperson for women Sussan Ley said.

Cancel student protesters’ visas: Coalition

The Coalition wants to impose visa bans on international students who use anti-Semitic hate speech while participating in protests on Australian university campuses.

Pro-Palestinian protest camps have appeared at several universities across Australia in recent months, with hundreds of students calling on administrators to cut ties with companies associated with weapons manufacturing and Israel.

Jewish groups and politicians have raised fears for the safety of Jewish students amid claims of antisemitic behaviour and the use of divisive chanting on campuses.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said if elected next year the Coalition would use section 116 of the Migration Act to cancel the visas of student protesters “found to be involved in spreading anti-Semitism or supporting terrorism”

“Since October 7 we have seen multiple instances of anti-Semitic rhetoric and sympathy expressed for listed terrorist organisations including Hamas on campus,” he said.,

“And yet there is no evidence the Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles have cancelled a single student visa under the significant powers available under the Migration Act.

Rising divisions over the war in Gaza come amid international outcry after an Israeli air strike on a makeshift tent camp killed at least 45 people on Sunday night.

Speaking at a Jewish high school in east Melbourne on Monday, deputy prime minister Richard Marles said the levels of hate speech he had observed over recent months was higher “than any that I’ve seen during my lifetime.”

The Greens will this week will call for a lower house vote on recognising Palestinian statehood, with leader Adam Bandt challenging Labor on Monday to support the measure.

New detainee figures spark anger

Federal Labor is under fire from the opposition after figures showed a cohort of freed immigration detainees have been charged with state crimes after being released by the High Court.

According to recent Home Affairs data, first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, at least 28 of the 153 people freed under the NZYQ ruling in November have committed offences.

The revelations will likely increase strain on the Albanese government which is under extraordinary pressure over the fallout of a court decision making indefinite immigration detention unlawful.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said figures represented a “stark failure” and said stricter monitoring conditions should have been in place.

“This has just shown the complete incompetence of this government in trying to live up to the core principle of what every government’s responsibility is to keep you safe,” Mr Littleproud said.

Independent MP Monique Ryan urged against a “kneejerk” reaction to the data.

“We have to abide by the rule of law, whether that’s domestic or internationally, and we don’t have any data about the crimes that these individuals have been accused of,” Dr Ryan said.

“Now, if they’re serious crimes, of course, that’s a real concern and our first priority has to be the communities, keeping the community safe. But these could be traffic offences.”