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

It is very much part of Australia, Senator. I would remind him that under the previous government there were 31 undetected arrivals during their term of office, which also includes arrivals that pulled up at Cairns, Sydney, Broome and Port Kembla. There has been only one arrival on the mainland under this government, which was a Sri Lankan fishing vessel with people on board who were returned to Sri Lanka after having their asylum claims assessed. I remind the senator that under his government there was a large number of mainland arrivals as people sought asylum in this country. It is the case that we have had a number of boats arrive at Christmas Island. (Time expired)