Andrew Giles backs away from claim drones being used to track released immigration detainees

Under-pressure minister Andrew Giles has backtracked from his claim that drones were being used to track people released from immigration detention after the high court decision. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Andrew Giles has backed down on the claim that drones are used to “keep track” of people released from immigration detention, clarifying his claim was a mistaken reference to aerial imagery.

Under pressure again in question time, the immigration minister told the parliament he had relied on “information” from his department for the claim, made on Thursday in an interview with Sky News.