Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, in writing, on 16 June 2011:

In respect of the additional 4000 refugees to be accepted under the proposed arrangement with Malaysia on irregular maritime arrivals, what is the estimated (a) average resettlement cost to his department for each refugee, and (b) annual additional cost in Centrelink payments, and any further associated additional costs.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is:

The Government has made it clear following the parliamentary impasse that while it will honour its commitment to the Malaysian Government to take 4,000 refugees from Malaysia over the next four years, this will not be in addition to the standard 13,750 places set aside in the annual Humanitarian Program. Costs will therefore come from within annual program funding.