Labor demands second hearing over Peter Dutton au pair saga

Labor Senator Murray Watt says another inquiry is needed to get answers over the au pairs scandal involving Peter Dutton.

Roman Quaedvlieg

Former ABF Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg says Peter Dutton helped a friend's au pair. (AAP) Source: AAP

Labor is pushing for another Senate inquiry into the European au pairs affair engulfing Peter Dutton, as the home affairs minister stokes a public feud with his former border force boss.

Ex-Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg submitted a letter to a Senate committee after Wednesday's initial inquiry, alleging Mr Dutton's chief of staff Craig Maclachlan called him asking for help in June 2015.

Mr Dutton has labelled the letter as "entirely false and indeed fabricated".

Labor Senator Murray Watt believes another public hearing is needed to get to the bottom of the saga.

"These latest revelations and contradictory evidence mean we do need to have another hearing," he told ABC radio on Friday.

"It's very typical of Peter Dutton, when he's under pressure, to start throwing mud at other people."
dc0072ed-5f48-4361-bae9-3073c0b80965
Labor Senator Murray Watt reacts during a Senate Inquiry at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, September 5
AAP

Senior government minister Mathias Cormann said the ex-ABF chief's allegations contained major factual inaccuracies.

"Mr Quaedvlieg is obviously not a credible witness here," Senator Cormann told Sky News.

In the letter, Mr Quaedvlieg said Mr Maclachlan told him "the boss' mate in Brisbane" had a problem with a prospective au pair who had been detained at the airport.

But Mr Dutton said Mr Maclachlan didn't work for him until October 2015.

Mr Quaedvlieg rejected the claim he fabricated evidence, indicating he would reconcile the "anomaly" in dates and didn't intend to debate facts through the media.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

By SBS/AAP

Presented by Yang J. Joo

Source: AAP, SBS



Share this with family and friends


Follow SBS Korean

Download our apps
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
Independent news and stories connecting you to life in Australia and Korean-speaking Australians.
Ease into the English language and Australian culture. We make learning English convenient, fun and practical.
Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
Korean News

Korean News

Watch it onDemand