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

Senator McKim, let me respond to you in two ways: first of all, you speak about people on Manus Island and in Nauru. They are people who were put there by Kevin Rudd. They are people who were put there by Kevin Rudd as a result of an agreement entered into by Mr Rudd with Prime Minister O'Neil of Papua New Guinea during the short and unlamented second Rudd government.

The second observation I would make in response to your question is this: I have now been provided with some of the statistics you seek—thank you, Senator Cash. Since the commencement of this government's policy—in other words, more than three years ago—740 people from 29 people-smuggling vessels have been intercepted and returned the their country of departure. Seven hundred and forty! In the previous five years, there were more than 50,000.