'There is a problem': Tony Abbott questions all African immigration amid gang violence debate
All African immigration into Australia has been called into question by former prime minister Tony Abbott amid the debate over Sudanese "gangs" in Melbourne.
Mr Abbott, speaking on 2GB radio in Sydney, argued that "we store up trouble for ourselves" by letting in people who are "difficult to integrate".
The sensational remarks followed Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's declaration at the weekend of a "major law and order problem in Victoria" due to Sudanese "gangs", which he linked to the death of 19-year-old South Sudanese woman Laa Chol.
Mr Abbott said Sudanese-born people in Victoria constituted less than 0.1 per cent of the population, but were responsible for "well over" 1 per cent of all crimes committed in that state, and were 57 times more likely to commit aggravated robbery than the general population.
"So there is a problem," he said. "It's an African gang problem, and the Victorian socialist government should get real and own up to the fact that there is an African gang problem in Melbourne."
But in comments that went further than those of Mr Dutton - and focused on Australia's immigration intake rather than Victoria's bail laws - Mr Abbott called into question the integration of all African migrants.
"I guess the big question though is: why do we store up trouble for ourselves by letting in people who are going to be difficult, difficult to integrate?" he asked.
"And this is why I think all credit to Peter Dutton, who is doing his best to manage our immigration program in our national interest - not in the interests of all sorts of people who might simply want to come here."
The statistics cited by Mr Abbott were sourced from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency and have been seized on by federal ministers such as Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Alan Tudge as evidence of a "very significant" crime problem in Melbourne, as well as a "weak" state government and legal system.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected that criticism, but has introduced legislation in recent days to try to stop children as young as 14 associating with known gang members.
Victorian police commander Stuart Bateson, who liaises with the African-Australian Community Taskforce established earlier this year, has also said Ms Chol's death amid a fight at a party was not linked to "warring Sudanese factions".
Earlier this year, Mr Dutton stoked anger by suggesting Melburnians were afraid to go out to restaurants at night because of fears about Sudanese gang violence.