Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. I can assure the senator that what we are doing to combat people-smuggling is that we are not for turning. We are sticking with the temporary protection visa policy. We believe it has saved lives. We do not believe it has cost lives. Not one person on this side, and I do not think anybody else on the other side, would have thought to come out on the anniversary of people having lost their lives to assert that 146 children lost their lives because of this policy—a policy that we both supported.

I further checked the report—I have not personally done it but my office has—and I have spoken to people who were on the committee and who were in the committee secretariat, and I am told that no evidence led to indicate that the children on the boat were coming to link up with people who had protection here. I am told that the evidence is that family groups were all coming together— (Time expired)