Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Hansard source

The Labor Party have asked a series of detailed questions about the purposes of this bill and the government's intentions in regard to the bill, and we have indicated to the chamber that we thank the government for their responses. As a consequence of the statements made in the second reading speech, and the answers to the questions that have been asked today, we are satisfied with the government's assurances in regard to the operations and purpose of this particular piece of legislation.

It is well known, though, that we do not condone the way in which Manus Island and Nauru detention facilities have operated during the time of this government. As we have indicated, we do not in any way endorse abuses of people detained by the Commonwealth of Australia, either in this country or offshore. This bill, however. is not about the government's management of the offshore processing facilities. While we acknowledge the importance of what Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has said in terms of the issues themselves, this is not the time to prosecute those particular arguments.

I want to make this point clear to Senator Hanson-Young. We are prepared to consider carefully and with some sympathy the issues that you raised in regard to the maintaining good order bill. We appreciate the spirit in which you have raised these matters, but we will not be supporting these measures in the consideration of this bill. We have made undertakings that we will support this bill unamended. I am satisfied that the assurance the government have given us meet our concerns, and that goes for other amendments that are being proposed today. I will not feel the need to repeat this proposition on every occasion. I indicate to the chamber that it is the opposition's position that we will not be voting for any amendments.