Immigrant Detention

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding criminal convictions.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: Attorney, it has now been confirmed that around 140 criminals have been released from immigration detention, amongst them a hit man who was convicted of murdering a pregnant woman and then proceeded to blow her body up using explosives. Others include a former bikie convicted of conspiring to supply prohibited firearms, child sex offenders and people smugglers. In the interests of public safety, and amidst an increase in crime across our state, my questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Are any bikie gang members or former bikie gang members being released, and how is he ensuring the safety of their victims?

2. Does the minister have concerns about the risk of released detainees absconding in light of views around some of these people refusing to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, including one detainee who was reported to have, until yesterday, absconded?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:21): I am very happy to repeat what I have said earlier this week, and what I have said last week in relation to substantially—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Sir, I want to try to get this out, so I can allow time for a supplementary, but I fear it is going to be difficult now. I am happy to say that, as I have previously advised, I am advised the Commissioner of Police has publicly noted that it was expected that somewhere around five of the detainees may have links to South Australia and may return to South Australia. What the police commissioner has advised is that there is a national coordination of this occurring between law enforcement agencies, and that SAPOL are prepared to dedicate the resources as needed.