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

I will indicate the opposition will be supporting amendments (1), (2) and (5). The principle that should apply here is that children should only be in detention for as long as is necessary to complete health, identity and security checks. We also take the view that families should be kept together wherever possible. I think it is possible to reconcile those two principles. We would say, though, that if one or more parents, or a guardian, of a child has received an adverse security assessment by ASIO, the minister should not be required to make a determination. In such a case, a child should be able to choose whether or not to remain in detention with the parent or guardian. Further, when a child is moved, the minister must be satisfied that a child's new living conditions will be better than their existing circumstances. Therefore we are seeking to have amendments made, which we will do when it comes to consideration of amendment (4), according to those principles I have outlined.