Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to remind the chamber that this is part of an integrated package, and part of what we are proposing is that we increase our intake of refugees to 20,000. That will have the effect of easing the waiting periods as described by Senator Hanson-Young, so again I challenge the accuracy of her presentation and how it fits into the calculation of what constitutes no advantage. It is part of a regional approach. There is consensus that working within a regional framework provides the most durable solution for managing asylum seekers, and particularly irregular maritime arrivals, and the risks associated with travelling by sea to Australia. So, to again reiterate the point, it is part of an integrated package and we should not forget that in the context of this committee stage debate.