PM backs Dutton’s decisions

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison insists Peter Dutton did not misuse his ministerial powers when he intervened to overturn visa rejections for au pairs.

The Home Affairs Minister is under pressure over revelations he granted European nannies visas when he held the immigration portfolio in 2015.

Mr Morrison said ministerial intervention was a good feature of Australia’s immigration system.

“In his case, I’ve seen the decisions that were taken, and those decisions were all completely consistent with how that power should be exercised, and that’s frankly the end of the matter,” he said yesterday.

“There is nothing before me which suggests any misuse of that power — nothing at all.”

The Prime Minister said he was happy for people to look at hundreds of decisions he made as immigration minister based on human circumstances.

“I mean, it’s not a file, it’s a human being,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Dutton has hinted the au pairs scandal is political retribution for his failed attempt to become prime minister.

“People are playing games and the timing of this attack off the back off the leadership issue a week ago is suspicious at best,” Mr Dutton said yesterday.

In one case, Mr Dutton overruled the advice of immigration authorities to grant a French woman a visa after being lobbied by AFL boss Gill McLachlan.

Mr Dutton was also asked by a former Queensland police colleague to help Italian woman Michela Marchisio despite concerns she would breach her visa. The au pair visa issue will be examined by a Senate inquiry, which is due to hear evidence next week.