Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister Evans. Does the Labor government accept any responsibility for the surges in asylum seekers attempting to enter Australia unlawfully?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Rudd Labor government takes its responsibility for combating people-smuggling absolutely seriously. We are doing all we can to try and combat the evil trade of people-smuggling. We believe that excision, mandatory detention and offshore processing of irregular maritime arrivals on Christmas Island signals that Australia maintains a very strong border security stance.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Resume your seat, Senator Evans.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides! When there is silence we will proceed. Senator Evans, continue.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the 2009 budget an additional $654 million was dedicated to a whole-of-government strategy to combat people-smuggling as part of the government’s $1.3 billion strategy to strengthen national security and border protection. We have established a dedicated Border Protection Committee of cabinet to drive the whole-of-government strategy to combat people-smuggling and to ensure that the government’s efforts are fully coordinated and resourced at levels which enable us to quickly respond to the factors that contribute to irregular people movement. The Rudd government has also created a single point of accountability for matters relating to the prevention of maritime people-smuggling within the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. These new arrangements will create a more effective capability to analyse intelligence, coordinate surveillance and on-water response and, of course, engage internationally with source and transit countries to comprehensively address and deter people-smuggling throughout the operating pipeline.

The Labor government are absolutely committed to try and combat people-smuggling. We are working closely with Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to deal with what is an increasingly large number of people seeking asylum and moving through South-East Asia. It is a problem that we have come together to tackle under a rejuvenated Bali process, as all countries in the region recognise the challenge people-smuggling makes to us. (Time expired)

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Given that the minister blames everyone else apart from his policies for the surge in asylum seekers, why won’t the minister agree to hold an independent inquiry into the issue? What has the government got to hide?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Time for debating the issue is at the end of question time. When there is silence on both sides we will proceed. Senator Evans.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash condemns the Liberal Party out of her own mouth with her question. She says the recent number of arrivals is all the Labor Party’s fault. Then she says, ‘Put your faith in us because we have an alternative policy. We have a call for an inquiry. We have a policy that says, “We want an inquiry.”‘ That is very courageous of you. It is a very important contribution to national debate. We are not proposing an inquiry because we are proposing to continue strong action to try and combat people-smuggling. We are absolutely committed to the task at hand. We have committed more resources. We have reinvigorated the Bali process. We are doing all we can to deal with these challenges. I do not think an inquiry is an alternative policy or any—(Time expired)

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given the Labor government’s refusal to work cooperatively with the coalition to conduct an inquiry into border security, can the minister now release all advice—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I have got to be able to hear the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the Labor government’s refusal to work cooperatively with the coalition to conduct an inquiry into border security, can the minister now release all advice from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Federal Police regarding all changes made to immigration and border protection policy?

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What are you going to say when the next boat arrives: ‘Our policies are working’?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! You have had your opportunity to ask your question, Senator Cash.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know Senator Cash is excited today. I do wonder what she said in 1999 when 86 boats arrived. I do not know whether she claimed that the Howard government was weak on border security, but that is a question—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, on both sides! Senator Evans, address your comments to the chair.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition would accept that that analysis was wrong and unfair. I argue that their analysis now is wrong. Can I also just say that a number of changes we have made, which they now blame the recent arrivals on, they supported. Their own shadow minister has said that they support the closing of the Pacific solution. I would like to give you a chance today, in taking note of answers, Senator Cash, to ask: does or does not the Liberal Party support the ending of the Pacific solution?

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order which goes to relevance. The sessional orders clearly state that the minister should be directly relevant in his answer. So far, it has been a personal assault on Senator Cash. He has been asked a simple question: will he release the information that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Federal Police have provided in the policy formation? It is a simple question: will he release the information?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When Senator Parry is on his feet, he is entitled to be heard in silence. Anyone on either side of this chamber is entitled to be heard in silence.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: Senator Evans is being directly relevant to the question. He is not required to answer a predetermined question from the opposition. What he can do is answer the question. That does not mean that they can formulate a question which suggests an answer—either yes or no—and then require him to respond positively to the proposition. What Senator Evans can do is directly answer the question in a way that informs the parliament and in a way that ensures that he is being directly relevant.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I consider the minister to be answering the question. He has three seconds remaining to answer the question.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am happy to debate policy when the Liberal Party get one.