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

I hope that was not a sign of sensitivity; I hope I have not hit a nerve, Senator Brown. I do appreciate the congratulations and I will pass them on to the Prime Minister.

The substance of the question is what the government will do in terms of its asylum pause on persons arriving from Sri Lanka as unauthorised boat arrivals. As I have indicated publicly, both then and subsequently, the three-month pause is due to be reviewed no later than 8 July. The cabinet will consider the effect of the pause and other advice relating to unauthorised boat arrivals from Sri Lanka and other advice about developments inside Sri Lanka, particularly in terms of the treatment of those of Tamil ethnicity and whether or not conditions are improving for those persons and whether that might be impacting on asylum claims from those Tamils who have been resident in Sri Lanka. That decision in terms of the suspension will be taken by the cabinet. As I say, the deadline for review is 8 July. The cabinet will make that decision. We will consider all that information in making that decision. So I just assure the senator that the review will occur as indicated at the time of the announcements.