Peter Dutton’s double standard: French ‘Bollard Man’ is given the Liberal leader’s seal of approval to stay – but he has baffling answers to questions about hero Pakistani guard
Peter Dutton has shied away from granting a long-term visa for the injured Pakistani security officer who risked his life in the Bondi Junction tragedy – despite agreeing to allow France’s ‘Bollard Man’ to stay.
The Opposition Leader was asked about Muhammad Taha’s hospital bed application for a visa extension when he stopped by Westfield in Bondi Junction on Thursday morning to pay his respects.
Mr Taha was stabbed in the stomach after bravely confronting crazed knifeman Joel Cauchi during his violent rampage on Saturday afternoon.
His colleague Faraz Tahir was one of six people fatally stabbed. Eight other victims remain in hospital, two of whom are critical.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week named fellow hero Frenchman Damien Guerot, who was nicknamed ‘Bollard Man’ after footage of him trying to stop Cauchi from going up an escalator went viral.
Muhammad Taha was stabbed in the stomach but managed to call other security personnel for help and became one of the first people to raise the alarm (photo, still recovering in hospital)
Mr Dutton shied away from backing a long-term visa for the injured Pakistani security officer who risked his life in the Bondi Junction tragedy
The Prime Minister offered him citizenship on Tuesday, claiming he was “welcome to stay as long” as he wants. The generous offer prompted Mr Taha, whose skilled visa for subclass 487 expires next month, to request the same courtesy.
Asked about the request as he laid flowers on Thursday, Mr Dutton said: “That is clearly an issue for the Prime Minister.
“I think the focus at the moment is really on those who have lost their lives, those who are recovering, and I think any other matter can be dealt with 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 of people coming to our country who are the best people,” Dutton said on Tuesday.
“When you look at the images of that young French citizen standing with a bollard at the top of the escalator, endangering his own life to protect others, he embodies the Anzac spirit and we would want people of that character in our country .
‘I think it is a good call from the Prime Minister and I am happy to support it.’
Damien Guerot was offered citizenship by Anthony Albanese because of his courage
Frenchman Guerot went viral after footage of him facing Cauchi at the top of an escalator while holding a bollard went viral.
Speaking to Ray Hadley on Thursday morning, Mr Dutton said the Frenchman “checks a lot of the qualities” he would like to see in people coming to Australia.
“They tell me he was a pretty impressive young guy and very humble. They 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 elaborate on Mr. Taha’s.
“I think if you look at the footage of that young guy holding the bollard at the top of the escalator – he didn’t have to do that, he didn’t have to be there, it’s not his country,” he said.
“I just think that the actions of strangers who help other people they’ve never met before and endanger their own lives, or those who put pressure on the ground to puncture wounds in young children or women, are quite heroic acts are. .’
Westfield Bondi Junction will be open to the public from 11am to 5pm on Thursday to allow the community to pay their respects following the horrific stabbing on Saturday.
The 40-year-old attacker, Cauchi, was shot dead by veteran police inspector Amy Scott.
The six victims being 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, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
Community members can walk through the center on Thursday as an area is set up for flowers and wreath laying.
New music will be played in Westfield and a black ribbon will be shown on advertising platforms in its place.
Trading will return 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 started stabbing strangers at random. He is now fighting to stay in Australia
