The federal opposition has raised concerns about an alleged altercation between Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil and her department's head, Stephanie Foster. Sky News reported that Foster was summoned to explain the disclosure of documents on crimes committed by released immigration detainees, which the government sought to keep private. Foster reportedly left the meeting in tears.
During Question Time, the Coalition pressed O'Neil to acknowledge the reported incident and apologize to Foster. O'Neil evaded the question, stating that her relationship with Foster and the department was constructive. However, she did not explicitly deny the allegations.
In a Senate committee hearing, Foster denied being verbally abused by O'Neil. She described their relationship as "very close" and "very constructive." She dismissed the reports of verbal abuse as "absolutely baseless."
The federal government is facing pressure to pass new laws that would allow the detention of non-citizens who refuse to cooperate with deportation efforts. This legislation aims to address the consequences of a High Court order that led to the release of several immigration detainees. The opposition has criticized the government's handling of the situation, accusing it of being unprepared and slow to respond.