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

Senator McKim, you refer to responsibility under international law. You seem to be disregarding the fact that the High Court of Australia ruled two years ago, by a majority, that the offshore processing arrangements that the Australian government entered into are not administered by the Australian government. We've had a lot of reliance on and calling in of decisions of the High Court recently in this chamber, including by you, Senator McKim, on the question of section 44 of the Constitution. You ought also to respect the High Court's decision on a question of offshore processing.