Peter Dutton was reluctant to support granting a long-term visa to the injured Pakistani security guard who risked his life in the Bondi Junction tragedy, although he agreed the French ‘Bollard Man’ should be allowed to stay.
The Opposition Leader was asked about Muhammad Taha’s hospital bed request for a visa extension when he stopped at Westfield in Bondi Junction to pay his respects on Thursday morning.
Mr Taha was stabbed in the stomach after bravely confronting knife madman Joel Cauchi during his violent rampage on Saturday afternoon.
His colleague, Faraz Tahir, was among the six people fatally stabbed. Eight other victims remain hospitalized, including two in critical condition.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week singled out his compatriot, Frenchman Damien Guerot, nicknamed “Bollard Man” after images went viral showing him trying to prevent Cauchi from climbing an escalator.
Muhammad Taha was stabbed in the stomach, but managed to radio other security personnel for help – becoming one of the first people to raise the alarm (pictured, still recovering at hospital).
Mr Dutton has been reluctant to support granting a long-term visa to the injured Pakistani security guard who risked his life in the Bondi Junction tragedy.
The prime minister offered him citizenship on Tuesday, saying he was “welcome to stay as long” as he wanted. The generous offer prompted Mr. Taha, whose subclass 487 qualified visa expires next month, to request the same courtesy.
Asked about the request as he laid flowers on Thursday, Mr Dutton said: “It’s obviously an issue for the Prime Minister.
“I think right now the focus is really on those who have lost their lives, those who are recovering, and I think any other issues can be addressed in due course.”
But Mr Dutton backed the Prime Minister’s offer to Mr Guerot earlier this week.
“I support the Prime Minister’s generous offer… we should not be afraid to want the best people to come to our country,” Dutton said on Tuesday.
“When you look at the images of this young French citizen standing at the top of the escalator with a bollard, putting his life on the line to protect others, he embodies the Anzac spirit and we would want people of this character in our country .
“I think it’s a good decision by the Prime Minister and I’m happy to support it.”
Damien Guerot was offered citizenship by Anthony Albanese for his courage
Frenchman Guerot went viral after footage showing him facing Cauchi at the top of an escalator while holding a terminal went viral
Speaking to Ray Hadley on Thursday morning, Mr Dutton said the Frenchman “ticked a lot of boxes” of qualities he would like to see in people coming to Australia.
“I am told that he was a quite impressive and very humble young man. These are the kind of Australians we want.
Mr Hadley noted that he had offered “bipartisan support” regarding Mr Guerot’s visa, and suggested he had now done the same for Mr Taha.
Mr. Dutton responded by highlighting Mr. Guerot’s efforts, but did not address those of Mr. Taha.
“I think in a circumstance where you look at the footage of this young man holding the bollard at the top of the escalator – he didn’t need to do that, he didn’t need to be there, that n ‘It’s not his country,’ he said.
“I just think the actions of strangers helping other people they’ve never met before and putting their own lives in danger, or those who were on the ground pushing to puncture wounds in young children or women, are quite heroic acts.’
Westfield Bondi Junction opened its doors to the public on Thursday from 11am to 5pm so the community could pay their respects following Saturday’s horrific stabbing.
The 40-year-old attacker, Cauchi, was shot dead by veteran police detective Amy Scott.
The six victims honored are new mother Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, mother-of-two Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27 years old, and security guard Faraz. Tahir, 30 years old.
Community members will be able to walk through the center on Thursday while an area will be set up to lay flowers and wreaths.
New music will be played at Westfield and a black ribbon will be displayed on advertising platforms.
Trading will resume on Friday for stores that choose to reopen.
Muhammad Taha (pictured above), from Pakistan, was patrolling the fourth floor of Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon when Joel Cauchi began stabbing random strangers. He is now fighting to stay in Australia
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