Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I do not think it can be seriously argued that the minister has been anything other than very frank and open with the Australian people about the nature of the circumstances in Australian detention centres. My reading of the minister’s statements is that they have been very frank about the difficulties faced as a result of the increasing numbers of people placed in detention. Under no circumstances would one suggest either that the government condones this action or that it will be doing anything other than treating these issues with the utmost seriousness. The minister has indicated that criminal charges could certainly be laid by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions as part of any AFP investigation into the recent events on Christmas Island. How could you say anything other than that shows how seriously the minister has regarded this issue? The minister has said that he will consider, on a case-by-case basis— (Time expired)