Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I will reiterate that the department deferred removal arrangements while the interim measures request was considered; it provided no new information beyond that which had been extensively examined; and the action to deport this person is consistent with the government’s policy on dealing with United Nations commission requests for the removal of unsuccessful asylum seekers—and that was announced in the year 2000. I do believe, and I will check this to make sure that it is right, that the Australian government has written to the UNHCR indicating its knowledge of this request, providing information on the extensive process undergone in Australia to consider this gentleman’s claims and inviting any views or considerations which the UNHCR might want to offer. But the government believes that its actions are consistent with the policy it announced in 2000 and that there has been, over the period since 2004, adequate opportunity for independent assessment of this person’s situation.