Dutton responds to explosive au pair claim

Peter Dutton has launched an extraordinary counterattack on former border force chief Roman Quaedvlieg's evidence to a Senate inquiry on the au pair saga.

FORMER BORDER FORCE CHIEF ROMAN QUAEDVLIEG'S EVIDENCE

* Quaedvlieg received a call from Dutton's chief-of-staff Craig Maclachlan in mid-June 2015.

* He was told "the boss' mate in Brisbane" had a problem with his prospective au pair who had been detained at Brisbane airport.

* Officers detained her after finding evidence on her indicating she was intending to work for reward in Australia, breaching her visa requirements.

* Quaedvlieg then called Maclachlan back, telling him the reasons for the au pair's detention. He said the intent was to keep her in detention and deport her as soon as possible.

* Maclachlan asked Quaedvlieg: "What needs to be done to fix this? Can the boss overturn it?"

* Quaedvlieg told Maclachlan Dutton could ask the departmental liaison officer in his office to request a ministerial briefing on a possible intervention from the department.

* Maclachlan thanks Quaedvlieg and ends the conversation.

PETER DUTTON'S RESPONSE

* Quaedvlieg's claims are a fabrication because the conversations did not occur.

* Maclachlan was not employed by Dutton until October 7, 2015.

* Maclachlan couldn't have known about the matter because he wasn't employed by the Immigration Department.

* Dutton did not tell any staff member to call Quaedvlieg. No staff spoke to Quaedvlieg about it.

* Quaedvlieg's claims are false. Dutton assumes he made them because he was bitter about being sacked as border force commissioner for misconduct.

* Labor leader Bill Shorten and immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann should detail any contact with Quaedvlieg.

(SOURCE: Roman Quaedvlieg's evidence to a Senate inquiry; statement from home affairs minister.)


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Dutton responds to explosive au pair claim | SBS News