Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Obviously, decisions around the terms and payments that are made to Australian citizens when they are released from jail are a matter for state and territory governments because state and territory governments run the prison system and administer those types of payments. I don't know what amounts are paid by state and territory governments, and I suspect they probably differ between the states and territories. Again, I would remind you that had these people remained in detention, as was the intention prior to the High Court's decision, that would have been at the cost of the Australian government as well.