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

Senator Hanson-Young, I think, understands well that the minister has made a statement about the use of temporary accommodation on Nauru and that this will make it possible for transfers to occur—hopefully the first transfers to occur later this week. It is envisaged now that, as I understand it, with arrangements in place for permanent accommodation to be built, they will be housed in appropriate accommodation using tents and so forth for the intervening period.

Can I also add that in putting in place these arrangements every care is being taken by the Australian government to ensure that the welfare of people transferred to Nauru is looked after. We have addressed these concerns both through the discussion in the Senate through the course of the passage of the legislation relating to offshore processing, and it is, of course, subject to the current debate— (Time expired)