Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is facing serious allegations of breaching ministerial conduct after excluding independent MP Dai Le from a major citizenship ceremony in Sydney.
The ceremony, which took place over the weekend, saw over 4,500 people become new Australian citizens, including many in Le’s electorate of Fowler.
What Happened?
According to reports, Le was not invited to the ceremony, while Labor’s candidate for Fowler, Tu Le, was in attendance and took part in photo opportunities with new citizens.
This has raised eyebrows, particularly given the upcoming election and claims that Labor is rushing through citizenship ceremonies to stack electorates in their favour.
Minister’s Response
Burke’s office has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the minister had previously told Le she was welcome to attend the ceremony.
However, Le claims she was not invited, and opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson has labeled the incident as “extraordinary behavior” from a “desperate government”.
Backlog or Political Advantage?
The Albanese government has rejected allegations that they are rushing through citizenship ceremonies for political gain.
Burke has stated that the mass ceremonies were held to clear a “huge backlog” of people waiting for citizenship, and that the events were not politically motivated.
However, Paterson remains skeptical, saying that the push to clear the backlog is a sign of a “dying days of a desperate government”.
Investigation Underway
The handling of the citizenship ceremonies is set to be probed during senate estimates, with Paterson vowing to ask tough questions of the Department of Home Affairs. He has also accused Burke of breaching ministerial conduct and playing “political favorites”.
What’s Next?
As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: the controversy surrounding the citizenship ceremonies has raised serious questions about the government’s motivations and actions.
With the election looming, the issue is likely to remain in the spotlight, and the government will be under pressure to provide answers and transparency.