Daryl Maguire wrote to Scott Morrison over killer's deportation
Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire wrote to Scott Morrison six years ago to urge him to deport a convicted killer, according to a search of the Prime Minister's files to uncover any lobbying by the disgraced MP.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed the letter one day after Labor asked Mr Morrison in question time whether Mr Maguire had made representations to him about visas.
Former NSW Liberal MP lobbed Scott Morrison when he was Immigration Minister, over the deportation of a child murderer.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
With Mr Maguire under investigation by NSW corruption authorities over a "cash for visas" scheme, Labor has asked whether he contacted federal ministers over visas and immigration.
Mr Morrison was immigration minister in 2014 when he received the letter from Mr Maguire, who was the state Liberal member for Wagga Wagga at the time.
The letter sought the deportation of Christopher Hoerler, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2003 for killing seven-month-old Jordan Anderson, the son of his then-girlfriend.
Hoerler was released from jail in 2014 and transferred to immigration detention. He was deported to Papua New Guinea later that year.
A search of the Department of Home Affairs files did not find any correspondence from Mr Maguire to Mr Morrison but the Prime Minister's office revealed a second search on Wednesday morning.
"The Department of Home Affairs has advised the PMO that a secondary search of its database has identified one piece of correspondence from 2014 to Scott Morrison from Daryl Maguire in his role as a local member on behalf of a constituent, advocating for the deportation of a convicted child murderer," the Prime Minister's office said.
"The then-minister responded factually to outline the process his department was taking to review the matter."
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles asked Mr Morrison about Mr Maguire in question time on Tuesday.
"Did disgraced former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire make any representations to the government about visas, including to you, Prime Minister?" Mr Marles asked.
Mr Morrison was careful in his answer not to confirm or deny any contact, whether by letter or in person.
"It is my normal practice for those matters, through my office, to be referred to the relevant department or my department for an appropriate response. That is the practice I have always followed," he told Parliament.
The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that Mr Maguire asked Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack about visa rules for skilled foreign workers in 2017.
David Crowe is chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.