Opposition leader Peter Dutton alleges Labour is pushing Gaza refugees through citizenship—claims swiftly debunked

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has ignited a political firestorm by accusing the Labour government of fast-tracking Australian citizenship for Palestinian refugees from Gaza in a bid to sway marginal seats in the upcoming election. However, his claims have been swiftly dismantled by Home Affairs officials, who confirmed that no recent arrivals from Gaza are eligible for citizenship under current laws.

Dutton’s allegations, made during a Sky News summit on antisemitism, suggested Labour was granting expedited citizenship to 12,500 individuals, potentially influencing electorates where the Greens pose a significant challenge. “Let’s be frank about the motivation,” he told Sky host Sharri Markson. “Why would you bring people in from a war zone, without the requisite checks, on a tourist visa? And why push them through the process to receive citizenship ahead of an election?”

Yet, the reality contradicts Dutton’s assertions. A spokesperson from the Home Affairs Department clarified that citizenship applicants must have resided lawfully in Australia for four years before applying—excluding all Gazan refugees who arrived after October 2023.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke swiftly rebuked Dutton’s statements, calling them “outrageous.” Rasha Abbas, director of an agency assisting Palestinian refugees, echoed this sentiment. “This is not true. There has been no citizenship granted to any Palestinians. There is no bypassing of security checks. Why are we singling out Palestinians?” Abbas stated.

Further discrediting Dutton’s remarks, Home Affairs sources revealed that the 12,500 individuals being granted citizenship predominantly consist of Indian and New Zealand nationals—not Palestinians. The department clarified that upcoming citizenship ceremonies were arranged to clear a backlog, not to manipulate voter demographics.

Despite mounting evidence against his claim, Dutton doubled down, implying that Labour may have relaxed security measures for political gain. “I just question whether there has been any compromise on security checks and whether it’s in our country’s best interest,” he remarked.

Markson asked him directly: “So you do hold serious concerns that the Albanese government is fast-tracking citizenship for a particular cohort?” Dutton’s response: “Yes.”

However, his primary source—the Daily Telegraph—did not report any specific allegations of fast-tracking citizenship for Palestinians, only that the Home Affairs Department was organising large-scale ceremonies.

Burke dismissed the notion of electoral opportunism, arguing that anyone who has met the legal criteria should be allowed to take their citizenship pledge without delay. “What sort of person wants to be in charge of Australia but doesn’t want people to take their pledge of commitment to Australia?” he asked.

Dutton’s office has not responded to requests for evidence to support his allegations. The controversy erupted at an event meant to address rising antisemitism, attended by figures including Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, NSW Premier Chris Minns, and former Prime Minister John Howard. Dreyfus warned against exploiting the issue for political advantage, stating: “Antisemitism cannot—must not—be weaponised in the pursuit of votes.”

With Dutton’s claims crumbling under scrutiny, Labour is standing firm, branding his comments as inflammatory and baseless. As the election nears, the political battle over immigration and national security is set to intensify—but in this round, it appears Dutton has been caught fabricating a crisis that does not exist.