Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

There are really two issues in that question, and the first is exactly the same issue as I have now answered on, I think, five previous occasions and as has been asked and answered in the estimates process. The answer is that this is an operational document and it would be inappropriate for it to be provided to ministers, and this has been made clear to Senator Brandis on many occasions.

I again make the point, which has been conveniently forgotten by those on the other side, that this is a global problem. The number of asylum seekers globally is a global challenge. There are over 42 million displaced people around the world. Global factors have continued to see an increase in the global numbers of refugees and asylum seekers. I know those opposite do not want to hear this because they do not want to deal with this policy challenge; they just want to make political points. Senator Brandis knows— (Time expired)