George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I do not offer expert medical opinions because I have no expertise to offer expert medical opinions. I would always hope that medical professionals would act in accordance with their best professional judgement. But, from the media reports that I have seen of the action at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, the medical staff concerned seem to me to be making a political rather than a clinical point.

Senator Di Natale, you want children out of detention; so do we. We have done something about it. Senator Di Natale, may I tell you that there are today 1,800 fewer children in detention than there were when the coalition government was elected a little more than two years ago. Fewer than 200 children remain in detention; almost 2,000 children were in detention under the policies that you supported. So, Senator Di Natale, I understand your concern as a medical professional yourself—