Julian Assange verdict deferred; Andrew Giles’ immigration bill rammed through Parliament; NDIS overhaul sparks backlash

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has accused the Coalition finance spokeswoman of sounding crazy, after being accused of trying to keep information from the public about detainees.

This masthead revealed one of the nation’s most powerful public servants blindsided O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles by releasing key new details about ex-detainees’ criminal records after the High Court’s landmark decision overturning indefinite detention.

The 17-page document on February 12 revealed that of the 149 former detainees, seven had previously been convicted of murder or attempted murder, 37 of sexual offences and 72 of assault and violent offending, kidnapping or armed robbery.

O’Neil and Giles hoped to keep the document from public scrutiny, according to seven government sources who spoke to this masthead on background, planning instead for the recently appointed Home Affairs Secretary Stephanie Foster to provide verbal answers to Liberal Senator James Paterson’s questions late in the afternoon.

Speaking on Seven’s Sunrise this morning, O’Neil said she did not direct a public servant to withhold information.

“Our government’s really committed to transparency, the information was requested of government, government provided the information to the public so I’m not actually really sure where this story has come from and what it’s all about,” she said.

Speaking on a panel, Liberal senator Jane Hume accused O’Neil of creating chaos and incompetence when it came to managing the detainees.

“Now today it’s not just chaos, not just incompetence, but potentially conspiracy to deceive too. And I think, Clare, the question for you here is: did either you, did anyone in your office, did anyone in your government, direct a public servant to either delay or to keep confidential information that had been asked by the Australian public, by the Senate?” Hume asked.

O’Neil responded by accusing Hume of “hyperventilating”, saying the line of questioning was silly.

“You actually sound crazy right now,” O’Neil said.

“I didn’t direct a public servant to do this, this is a little bit of a silly line of questioning … the information was requested of the government and the government provided the information to the public, so I’m not sure what the alleged conspiracy is coming from Jane this morning.”