Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I am surprised, considering how much this issue is being spoken about by both the government and its own agencies, that the minister does not have that information. I ask a supplementary question. As a signatory to the refugee convention, Australia is required to assess claims for protection equally, regardless of the mode of arrival. Given the massive cost associated with offshore processing, why does the government insist on maintaining offshore processing regimes rather than processing people’s claims here on the mainland?