Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. As we have heard, the Victorian police and the Australian Border Force have issued statements this morning confirming that a man released by this government following the NZYQ case was arrested for serious sexual offences and, according to Victoria Police, a woman was allegedly assaulted and another allegedly stalked. This minister and the government have repeatedly sought to compare the community safety detention order passed last December by this parliament with the continuing detention orders that had previously been in place. Minister, will you confirm that, under the continuing detention orders, individuals were continuously detained and not released into the community? In contrast, the NZYQ cohort are in the community. Isn't this comprehensive misunderstanding by the Albanese government another demonstration of just how your government is failing to accept responsibility for ensuring these individuals are monitored and put back in detention?