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

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Mr Bowen, has been pursuing the question with the East Timorese. They have said that they are open to discussions on the issue of the regional processing centre being based in East Timor. East Timor is a democracy; people will have a range of views about such things. It will be part of the political debate in East Timor, as these issues are here in Australia. Clearly that sort of democratic discussion will occur. They have said they are open to discussions. The minister has visited East Timor and has engaged in those discussions. He is pursuing the proposal with East Timor and, on his return from East Timor, he reported on how that had gone. He also spoke with the Indonesians and other countries in the region, and he is committed to continuing to pursue the regional processing centre concept.