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

The recent protest activity at the Christmas Island detention centre is, I am advised, under control and is being jointly managed by the AFP, the immigration department and Serco, the department’s detention service providers. Over the weekend, the AFP deployed 70 officers to Christmas Island to support those already present on the island, taking the total number of AFP officers to 188.

Senator Cash asked about the number of people at large. My advice was that a small number of people had not been returned to the centre. However, just before question time I heard the briefing, as you did, by officers on Christmas Island indicating that all personnel had in fact been returned to the centre. I can get further information for you but it is my understanding, based on what has been explained to me, that there had been a small number of people not in detention. Shortly before we came into this chamber, however, a briefing was provided indicating that all personnel had now been returned to the centre.