Peter Dutton’s warning another 340 ‘hardened criminals’ could be released into Australian community following High Court decision

Peter Dutton has warned that another 340 detainees could soon be walking the streets following a controversial Supreme Court ruling that deemed indefinite detention illegal.

The opposition leader has criticized the government for failing to impose tough legislation to circumvent the ruling, which has already left 84 asylum seekers – some of whom are ‘hardened criminals’ – at large.

The government strongly opposed the Supreme Court ruling and introduced legislation imposing severe restrictions on all detainees released after the ruling.

Home Secretary Clare O’Neil initially said it was a decision that “applies to one person only.”

That number has since skyrocketed, with 84 released in the six days since the ruling was handed down and another eight expected to be released soon.

But Mr Dutton today warned the number could be even much higher.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was peppered with tough questions about the fiasco

Speaking in the House of Representatives, Mr Dutton said: ‘We are not just talking about the 84 who are now free and the eight who are about to be released, we are now talking about a pipeline of 340 people and possibly more.

“Potentially more than that,” he repeated.

Mr Dutton declined to go into too much detail about the perpetrators who could be released soon, but he revealed he was the minister who decided to keep many of them in custody “several times”.

“I can tell you these people have offended several Australians,” he said.

“We are not talking about people who have had indiscretions under the law.

“These are people who have committed serious offenses and the chance that they will commit crimes again is very high.”

During Question Time on Thursday, chaired by acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended APEC in San Francisco, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was peppered with tough questions about the fiasco.

Mr Dutton declined to go into too much detail about the perpetrators who could be released soon, but he revealed he was the minister who decided to keep many of them in custody “several times”.

Question Time was chaired by acting Prime Minister Richard Marles on Thursday, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended APEC in San Francisco

One question in particular asked Mr Giles to confirm whether he had offered any help to a rape victim who said she ‘immediately started crying and feeling numb’ when she heard her rapist had been released after the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Mr Giles said: “The thoughts of every member here are with that victim and all victims who may be affected by these issues.

‘Of course I cannot comment on individual cases.’

Mr Dutton followed up with a question of his own to Mr Marles, asking whether the Government will make an effort to ‘contact each of the victims of these 84 individuals and, in the event that the victim has died, the victim’s family’.

Mr Marles said Labor would do “our utmost to communicate with the families of the victims, not only about the circumstances of the release, but also about the steps the Government are now taking in accordance with the legislation.”

This legislation will introduce laws that impose strict conditions such as ankle tracking devices and curfews on the former prisoners.

Mr Giles said: ‘The thoughts of every member here are with that victim and with all victims who may be affected by these issues.’

The legislation passed the House this morning and the Senate is expected to meet late to pass it, but proposed amendments could delay that until late tonight.

Greens immigration spokesman Nick McKim said the “draconian laws” would give the minister powers never before seen in Australia.

“It’s a total disgrace, a despicable, cowardly capitulation by a party (Labour) that has forgotten where it came from and forgotten what it used to stand for,” he said.

The laws would create a two-tier justice system for some migrants and refugees compared to Australians, he said.

The immigration secretary said the measures such as electronic monitoring and curfews would not apply to all former detainees and assessments would be carried out to identify those most at risk of reoffending.

“These measures are consistent with the legitimate objective of community safety and the rights and interests of the public,” Mr Giles said.

New visa requirements for the released prisoners will force them to inform the government of any change of address or of any association with clubs, organizations or individuals involved in illegal activities.

Any violation of the new visa conditions carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.