The head of Australia’s domestic spy agency ASIO has denied his agency acted to slow down security checks on asylum seekers who came to Australia by boat before 2013.
A cabinet document published by the ABC last month appeared to show the Immigration Department, then overseen by Scott Morrison, asked ASIO to “align the processing of security checks” to avoid around 30 so-called illegal maritime arrivals getting security clearance every week.
The Coalition government was trying to implement its policy of never granting permanent protection visas to asylum seekers who came to Australia by boat, but was still in the process of redrafting visa rules.
Questioned by Greens senator Nick McKim in Senate Estimates on Tuesday night, ASIO director-general Duncan Lewis denied the accusation.
“You're asserting they've been slowed down, I'm saying that they were at a lower priority,” Mr Lewis told the committee.
“ASIO would not – certainly would not, now or ever – be influenced in terms of our core function, which is around the security threat to Australia.”
Mr Lewis said it was not unusual for ASIO to receive letters from the secretary of the department.
The cabinet documents also revealed the government used its regulatory powers to instruct the Administrative Appeals Tribunal – which settles many migration cases – to process cases relating to asylum seekers who came by boat last, after other kinds of applicants.
