Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to the matter that Senator Paterson raised, we are not going to comment on individual cases, because we will not prejudice court proceedings that are underway. We will continue to do everything in our power to keep the community safe; to deport individuals who have no right to be in the country; and to ensure that Operation AEGIS, which was established immediately following the High Court decision, has all of the support that the government can bring to it to ensure that law enforcement and security agencies are working together to deal with the release of this cohort of immigration detainees who were released by a decision of the High Court.

The minister is working every single day with those security agencies and with his state and territory colleagues to make sure that everything is done that can be done to keep the community safe. As you know, there is a range of work underway: the Department of Home Affairs, working with the Australian Border Force, working with the Community Protection Board. I have seen the work they are doing. I know you want to come in here to stir up and politicise all of these matters. Your natural inclination is to go straight to it, when you know exactly how hard those agencies are working. You know the challenges they face. You are seeking to undermine it here today.