Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. In the intervening period between my last question and now, during which the Prime Minister has been provided with the numbers of unauthorised arrivals by plane, has the Prime Minister received similar advice on arrivals by boat in the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007? If the Prime Minister cannot provide the House with this information now, will he undertake to do so by the end of question time?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My answer to the honourable member’s question is no, I have not been provided with that information. But she is absolutely right to point out that the number of those seeking exit from countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka went down in the period following 2001. It is a global phenomenon. I have been provided with further figures on arrivals preceding 2001 by means other than boat, because I think it is worthwhile pointing out to the House what happened before 2001. Arrivals in 2001 were 17,882, then it goes 15,547, 13,217—

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the Prime Minister was asked if he could provide the figures of unauthorised boat arrivals between 2002 and 2007 and, if he could not, would he confirm that he would do it before the end of question time. The answer is entirely irrelevant to that question.

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

The Prime Minister has the call.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said in response to the member for Farrer’s question, obviously in that period—consistent with what happened around the world—the total number of exits from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka went down. I have referred to those numbers in the House in the last few days. Why those opposite are so uncomfortable about this fact is that in the period they were in office, total arrivals of asylum seekers to Australia, including by air, was: 10,430 in 1996, 10,043 in 1997, 8,192 in 1998 and 13,217 in 1999.

Opposition Member:

They fixed it!

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member up the back says they fixed it. Well if they fixed it in 2001, why did we have 5,875 arrive in 2002 and 4,439 in 2003?