Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I cannot go to the sort of detail that the senator is after other than to repeat that I am looking to review the system. Obviously, I take seriously any advice I receive from branches of the Labor Party, but all I can say at this stage is that I agree there is a problem. The current system does not make a lot of sense. I had to deal recently with an instance of a man who had been found to be a refugee but had been prevented from sponsoring and being reunited with his family because of the debt. I am pleased to say that we were able to sort out that individual case. But it is an issue that is in need of reform. I have, as I said, asked for further information and I will be pursuing it as a high priority to see if we cannot get a more effective system in place.