Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion. As I advised the Senate in question time yesterday, any complaint regarding inappropriate or criminal behaviour against a service provider staff member is treated with the utmost seriousness and urgency and with appropriate regard for procedural fairness and natural justice. I note that the allegations raised by Senator Hanson-Young with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection have been referred to the department for comment. The making of an allegation or the referral of such an allegation does not substantiate it. Previous experience has demonstrated this on Christmas Island and other places where claims have later proved to have been fabricated or overstated. The government takes these matters seriously, and Minister Morrison will be making an announcement relating to these and other matters in the near future.