Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Hansard source

The coalition will not support these amendments, as we consider they are not necessary. We consider that these amendments will create administrative burden and create additional avenues for legal challenges on administrative grounds. This will create considerable work in addition to what is already a complex arrangement that takes a considerable amount of time and resources of multiple agencies and departments of both federal and state governments. The International Transfer of Prisoners Statement of Policy already outlines such considerations for the Attorney-General in their approval or refusal of a transfer. This amendment is also contrary to the intent of the amendments within the main bill, which is intended to reduce procedural overheads associated with the international prisoner transfer process. It is important to note that under the act a prisoner transfer can only occur where the Australian government, the foreign government and the prisoner all agree to the transfer. In all of the circumstances, we do not support this or other changes proposed by the Greens.