Put Dutton in charge of getting Afghan angels to safety

Despite surviving an assassination attempt four years ago, this man has unsuccessfully fought DFAT bureaucrats involved in the visa application process for six years, including a failed Federal Court appeal.

When asked about these delays on June 10, Scott Morrison replied, "It would be unconscionable to leave these people at the mercy of the Taliban." Yet this is what the DFAT continues to do.

On June 21, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne rejected the visa application for a locally employed manager who had been engaged by AusAID on one of her department's flagship projects in southern Afghanistan, at the height of our counter-insurgency campaign in 2011-12. As many as 15 of this man's 40 employees have been murdered by the Taliban. One reportedly was butchered in front of his home and neighbours for allowing his property to be used as the office for the AusAID project.

With weeks remaining until the final coalition troops withdraw from Afghanistan, this bureaucratic nightmare must finally be resolved. The Prime Minister should place this urgent national security problem in Dutton's hands. The Australian Defence Force, with support from senior DFAT officials who have operational experience in Afghanistan, is well placed to conduct an emergency military evacuation to bring these people to safety. If necessary, visa processing can be completed in a safe third country in the region, with proper legal representation for the applicants.

Dutton has the decisiveness and leadership to get this job done. Not only would this prevent further damage to our security interests and international standing, it would allow our 20-year military commitment to Afghanistan to be concluded on a positive and professional note. Morrison must put this urgent task in his Defence Minister's hands today and let him get on with it.