Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I'll just make a few comments, and I know Senator Hanson also has some questions. In terms of what we are seeking, all we're asking the government to release is consistent with the types of details you would ordinarily expect to see from a court or the AAT. This government clearly has a perennial problem with detail.

Proposed clause 395.49 goes to the actions of the minister. It tells the Australian people nothing about the details of who the Albanese government has decided to release. It does not say the things that we are asking about. It does not say what offences have been committed here or overseas. It does not say what efforts the government has made to try and resettle these individuals. It does not tell the Australian community about the risks they will need to live with—because that is the fact: the Australian community are living with these risks. Quite frankly, if this is the best the government can do in terms of transparency, I don't believe it passes the pub test. But the government have said they will not be supporting our amendment, which was all about transparency with the Australian people.

In relation to the question that I asked the minister, the definition of 'serious violent or sexual offence' is added to this bill, and it provides:

serious violent or sexual offence means an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory where:

(a) it is an offence punishable by imprisonment for life or for a period, or maximum period, of at least 7 years; and

(b) the particular conduct constituting the offence involved, involves or would involve—

and then it takes you through a series of offences—

(i) loss of a person's life or serious risk of loss of a person's life; or

(ii) serious personal injury or serious risk of serious personal injury; or

(iii) sexual assault; or

(iv) sexual assault involving a person under 16; or

(v) … child abuse material—

et cetera. I would have thought the government already would know how many of the 147 are going to make that first limb, but clearly they do not. So I will ask the minister: when were drafting instructions given in relation to this bill, and when did drafting on the bill actually commence?