Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Will the Attorney-General guarantee that the 79 asylum seekers transferred to HMAS Viking, off the coast of Indonesia, will now not be brought onto Australian territory?

Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question. It related to 79 people who have been transferred to Oceanic Viking. These matters and the treatment of those seeking asylum to Australia are significant issues. It is appropriate that these issues are raised in this parliament. I note that, for instance, over the weekend there were demonstrations either way, highlighting the political controversy in Italy, for instance. I think it is appropriate that we debate these issues sensibly in this parliament. It involves unquestionably complex international issues. In that context the member asked about these people. It obviously relates to the maritime border between Australia and Indonesia. I refer the honourable member to President Yudhoyono’s comments that these matters have to be resolved, one working with the other throughout our region.

The Prime Minister has indicated that this is a significant issue. We make no apologies for taking a hard-line response. At the same time, we are dealing with human beings.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer honourable members opposite to an editorial over the weekend in, I think, the Sydney Morning Herald which said that, given that fact, our responses need to be proportionate and calm. With the greatest respect to the honourable member, the approach should be taken on that basis. These matters will obviously be the subjects of discussions, and have been the subjects of discussions—

Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order about relevance. The question was quite direct and simple. It was about—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Attorney-General is responding to the question.

Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the context of maintaining a hard-line border protection policy, in the context of maintaining a response that is proportionate and calm, in the context of acknowledging that we are dealing with the safety of human beings at sea and in the context of international treaty obligations respectively on the parts of Indonesia and Australia, I, while I am representing the minister for immigration in this House, can indicate that Australia and Indonesia are in discussions as to the safest place to accommodate these people, given that they were rescued at sea, in the context of our respective maritime safety obligations.