Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. The first point I would make is, again, the senator is using Senator Cash's political words of 'your government released'. The senator would know that this was not a choice to release; this was imposed upon the Australian government by the High Court of Australia.

No amount of interjection from the shadow Attorney-General can obviate that fundamental fact: this was imposed on us by the High Court.

The second point is this. This is a serious issue. The government understands that Australians are concerned about community safety. We understand and are similarly appalled by reports of reoffending by those that the High Court required us to release. I do express my thoughts to those who have been impacted by the court ordered release of this cohort. You have heard me say in here many times in various contexts that everyone deserves to feel safe and to live in safety, and that is certainly the approach the government seeks to take in a situation where the High Court has imposed its decision to release.

Within a week and one day of the decision, the government had in place a visa regime with conditions attached. We had already set up a new regime of community protection, establishing a joint operation between police and the Australian Border Force, who are case-managing each of these individuals in the community. I am also advised that the AFP and the Australian Border Force briefed state and territory premiers and chief ministers on Operation AEGIS, further ensuring all jurisdictions are working together to keep our community safe. Tonight, in the House, the opposition will have the opportunity to support the legislation we passed in this place yesterday for a tough preventive detention regime.