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

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 612 standing in my name for today relating to New Zealand's offer to settle 150 refugees.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

(1) That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) the New Zealand Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, has continued to pressure Australia to accept New Zealand's offer to resettle 150 refugees who are currently in offshore detention,

(ii) New Zealand will begin work to expedite processing refugees if, and when, the offer is accepted, and

(iii) Prime Minister Ardern stated "We made the offer because we saw a great need. No matter what label you put on it there is absolute need and there is harm being done"; and

(b) calls on the Government to accept New Zealand's offer to resettle 150 refugees and negotiate conditions similar to the United States refugee resettlement agreement.

(2) That a message be sent to the House of Representatives seeking its concurrence in this resolution.

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.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) 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 is committed to the strong and consistent border protection measures that have stopped the boats and prevented deaths at sea. The government's position has not changed. Any resettlement of refugees in New Zealand would have serious implications for Operation Sovereign Borders. The government will not be dictated to by the Greens on border security. We have seen the tragic consequences of Labor-Greens border policy in the past. Labor-Greens mistakes saw 1,200 men, women and children drown at sea and 8,000 children placed into detention. We will never allow this to happen again.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 612, as amended, be agreed to.

Senator Dodson did not vote, to compensate for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Parry.

Senator Farrell did not vote, to compensate for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Nash.

Senator Sterle did not vote to compensate for the resignation caused by the vacancy of Senator Xenophon.