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

I thank the senator for the question and notice that he did not address my invitation to tell me what current Liberal Party policy was. I await that with anticipation. What we know is that there was an unauthorised arrival off the Western Australian coast a couple of days ago, and we will obviously be getting further information. It is assumed at the moment that they were of Sri Lankan nationality. I would remind the senator, who is a former minister in the Howard government, that there have been two arrivals of Sri Lankans direct from Sri Lanka in recent times. This is the third arrival. It is not a usual occurrence, but it is not the first occurrence of Sri Lankans arriving on the Western Australian coast undetected. As I said, we have had two previously. But it is obviously of serious concern. I have asked for a report as to why they were not spotted or located earlier, and I am very keen to receive that information. (Time expired)