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

I can indicate to the senator that the decisions about who is a refugee and the status of persons arriving here are made on the basis of proper assessment by pro­fessional officers within the department of immigration. This has been the practice for some time. It has not been departed from in any way by the actions of the minister for immigration within this government. The processes are absolutely in accordance with international legal obligations and domestic law. I do not believe there to be any evidence whatsoever that the minister has departed from those well-established arrangements, which, I might say, have served governments for many a long year within this country.