Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Senate inquiry into Nauru handed down its report around a month ago. The government, as it has already stated, is considering the report and will table its response in the Senate. Any notice seeking to establish an inquiry into substantially the same matters should only be established following a response from the government. If another inquiry is needed, it only illustrates that Labor and the Greens did not use the previous inquiry to best advantage. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection gave evidence three times to the Nauru committee; it also provided two submissions. There is no issue which was not covered by the previous inquiry that would necessitate another inquiry. The reporting date makes apparent the true intention of Labor and the Greens, which is to have a long and drawn-out inquiry as a stunt. The willingness of Labor and the Greens to use asylum seekers to perpetuate their particular approach is, I think, clear to everyone.