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

The answer to your question is that neither I nor any Australian official is doing any such thing. As the High Court of Australia decided in relation to the Nauru detention arrangements, those arrangements are conducted not by the government of Australia but by the government of Nauru. Although the Manus Island detention centre has not been the subject of final proceedings in the High Court, the agreement between the Australian government and the Nauruan government is in all material respects the same as the agreement between the Australian government and the New Guinean government in respect of Manus Island. So, do not take it from me, Senator McKim. Accept that, if you stand on your high horse here in the Senate this afternoon and invoke the rule of law, you should respect the rule of law by respecting the final determination on this issue of the High Court of Australia.