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

I do not have details on Customs staffing over the Christmas period, but I have no indication that there is any change to their arrangements. But I will take that part of the question on notice. Certainly, in terms of the Navy, I have been assured by senior Defence personnel that the arrangements they are putting in place for stand-down in the Navy over the Christmas period to provide some relief to Navy personnel who have been working at a very high tempo for a very long period of time are that there will be no diminution of border patrol activity over that period. There will be no reduction in our capacity for border protection over the period in which there is some stand-down of Navy personnel. I have received that assurance from Defence. I assume and am confident Customs will continue their normal operations, but I will take on notice the exact question because I have not specifically got information in answer to that question. (Time expired)