Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate agrees that Australia's detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru are not safe and that every person who has sought asylum in Australia, and is currently in Papua New Guinea or Nauru, must be evacuated to Australia immediately.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government will not weaken Australia's strong border protection measures. Offshore processing, turnbacks and temporary protection visas have all been critical to the success of Operation Sovereign Borders. It has now been more than three years since the last successful people-smuggling venture. This motion demonstrates that the Greens have learned nothing from their past mistakes. When Labor and the Greens weakened Australia's borders, at least 1,200 men, women and children lost their lives at sea and 8,000 children were detained. It was a catastrophic moral failing. The coalition government cannot allow this to happen again. Our strong and consistent border protection policies will not change.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government should not pretend that it cares about the lives of these people. They have been imprisoned on Manus Island and Nauru for over four years now.

Honourable senators interjecting—

They are dying over there. Their blood is on your hands. It's on the hands of the Labor Party.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about those who died at sea?

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senators have the right to be heard in silence. I ask that you respectfully listen. Senator McKim.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

People are being beaten regularly on Manus Island and Nauru. They are having electricity cut off on Manus Island right now. They are having access to safe drinking water removed from them on Manus Island right now.

Honourable senators interjecting—

People are dying. People are being beaten, and their blood will be on the hands of the Labor Party, the Liberal Party and the National Party in this place unless we immediately close these prisons that Australia has established on Manus Island and Nauru. Evacuate the people there immediately. In the name of humanity and in the name of compassion, bring them here to safety in this country where we can look after them, as we have a moral and legal obligation. (Time expired)

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy President, I have a point of order. I would forgive you if you did not hear it. Five times Senator Macdonald called Senator McKim a liar. I ask him to withdraw that.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was much disruption in the chamber. I did not hear that, but I would ask if those comments were made, Senator Macdonald—you know the standing orders—that you withdraw them.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Deputy President, yes, I did say that five times, but I will withdraw it because I know it is unfortunate and replace it with 'purveyor of mistruths'.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Macdonald, I asked you to do a straight withdrawal. I would ask that you respect that.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do. I withdraw, but I'll replace it with 'purveyor of the mistruth'.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator McKim.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As someone who has been subject to a ruling from the President of the Senate in the very recent past that, when you are asked to withdraw—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator McKim, resume your seat, please. I'm not quite sure why you stood.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is this: the President himself has very recently, in this Senate, made a ruling that, when the chair asks for a withdrawal, it must be done unconditionally. I would ask you to enforce that ruling on Senator Macdonald.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, that's not a point of order. Senator Macdonald did withdraw.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was just going to support you in your ruling before you made it.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's not necessary, thank you.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll just indicate, as a courtesy to you, that I'll be writing to the President of the Senate about this matter.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I'm going to put the motion—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Senator Macdonald, I have asked politely, without naming senators, for there to be order. I expect that to be respected. It is my intention to put the motion. The question is that general business notice of motion No. 411, in the name of Senator McKim, be agreed to.