Dutton under fire
CANBERRA: Peter Dutton’s decision to personally intervene to save a French au pair from deportation at the request of AFL boss Gil McLachlan is ‘‘unusual’’ and needs explanation, Labor says.
The Home Affairs minister is facing questions about this incident and two others, which are already the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.
As immigration minister in November 2015, Mr Dutton intervened to free the 27yearold from immigration detention after his office was lobbied by the AFL boss. The minister used his discretionary powers to grant her a tourist visa.
The au pair was planning to work for Adelaidebased farmer Callum MacLachlan, who is Gil McLachlan’s second cousin.
Callum MacLachlan’s father, Hugh MacLachlan, has given roughly $150,000 to state and federal branches of the Liberal Party since 1999.
The AFL had been contacted for comment but had not replied by last night.
Now, Labor wants to know if the donations had any influence on his decision to help the young woman into the country.
Mr Dutton has flatly denied any wrongdoing and says donations had no influence on his decision, as his office attempted to draw Labor into the issue.
‘‘The minister has intervened in many cases presented by Labor members of parliament and you would have to ask them if they are presenting those cases based on donations to the Labor Party,’’ a spokeswoman told the ABC.
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said Mr Dutton and senior bureaucrats must be grilled about the au pair controversy.
Conflict of interests
Mr Dutton, who last week failed to become prime minister, is also facing continued
questions about his personal financial interest in publiclyfunded child care centres.
The solicitorgeneral has found there is ‘‘some risk’’ the High Court could find he has a conflict of interest over federal payments to the centres.
‘‘It looks like he’s got a good business in child care and he seems to have a sideline in au pairs as well,’’ Ms Plibersek said. — AAP