Screening millions of visa applicants every year for anti-Semitic conduct isn't practical, according to Australia's head of immigration.
Clare Sharp told the Royal Commission into anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion that the department processes around nine million visas annually and relies on a risk-based approach to determine who needs to be screened.
Individuals who raise concerns are added to a ''central movement alert list'' before they apply for a visa to give the department a head-start.
This opens the door to a review of an individual's social media presence, which Ms Sharp said involved considering an individual's social media presence including liking content or using an emoji reaction.
"You're trying to work out what is this person's view in relation to that post when it's not their own post," Ms Sharp said on Tuesday.
"Working out how many handles they have, where are they operating, how many platforms, and then trawling through what could be years' worth of content to try and work out have they said something offensive, how far back would you go to try and identify that?"
Immigration also considers the social media following of applicants and to determine how disruptive they could be.
Ms Sharp reiterated decision makers are bound by ministerial directions that prioritise the safety of the Australian community, but must weigh up international law obligations around rights of the child and separation of family units.
"I'm not saying that those things necessarily justify or override the hateful nature of something that has been said, but the weighing process allows for ... a decision maker to very deliberately think through a set of considerations," Ms Sharp said.
Representatives from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the South-Western Sydney Local Health District are among the witnesses due to front the inquiry on Wednesday.
The inquiry will look into efforts to prevent or address anti-Semitism and other forms of racism among regulated health care practitioners.
