ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW
CANBERRA
THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2020
SUBJECTS: Visa Privatisation chaos.
ANDREW GILES, MEMBER FOR SCULLIN: I’m Andrew Giles, Labor’s Shadow Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, I’m here today to talk about reports in the media, which demonstrate that Scott Morrison’s $1 billion plan to sell off Australia’s visa system is in complete chaos.
With revelations that Mr Scott Briggs, a close personal friend of the Prime Minister, major Liberal donor and Liberal Party powerbroker, has bailed from one of two consortiums shortlisted from this $1 billion contract. This is on the back of further revelations, a scandal about a $165,000 donation from a company associated with Mr Briggs, yet to be explained or even talked about by the Liberal Party. This is not the end of the issue, because whether or not Mr Briggs is directly involved in this consortium, we know that he has a financial interest.
We also know fundamentally that this is just a bad idea. Australians don’t want our visa system sold off to the highest bidder. Even Peta Credlin has acknowledged that this is a threat – not only to our national security – but our border security. It’s time on the back of this complete chaos and a series of scandals for Scott Morrison to rule out selling Australia’s visa system to the highest bidder.
JOURNALIST: Is Boston Consulting Group involved in that as well?
GILES: It is.
JOURNALIST: Doesn’t Kristina Keneally have some connection to that?
GILES: Senator Keneally’s husband has a connection to the consulting group, which is connected to one of the bidders. That’s why Senator Keneally has removed herself from any involvement in this process. Senator Keneally is of course not a Minister in the Government.
Thanks very much.