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

As the senator is aware, I gave him the response to his question yesterday, and I stand by that. The reality is that people who disembark in Indonesia, on Indonesian soil, are treated according to Indonesian law and will be detained by the Indonesians. They will be detained in a centre built by the Howard government, that is true; but they will be detained by the Indonesians. They will be processed in accordance with the arrangements agreed between the Indonesian government and the Australian government. We have made clear that those arrangements were put in place and the people on the Oceanic Viking were advised of those arrangements. When they sought to know what would happen to them when they came off the boat, we advised them that these were the arrangements that were in place: arrangements agreed by the Indonesian government and the Australian government for the processing of those persons. There is no special deal in place.

I remind the senator that only two people were advocating a special deal for these people. One is the opposition spokesperson, Dr Stone, who suggested that they all should be processed on the ship. She has argued for a special deal and that they should be processed on the ship. The other proposition is by Premier Colin Barnett of Western Australia, who has asked that they have a special deal and be taken to Australia. We have said that there is no special deal. They will disembark in Indonesia in accordance with international law and the processes agreed between the two governments. We have advised them of how they will be treated and the procedures that will apply. But we have not agreed to their request to come to Australia, we have not agreed to their request to go to Christmas Island, and there has been no special deal offered. All we have done is to outline the arrangements that will apply.