Senate debates
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Questions without Notice
Asylum Seekers
2:00 pm
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to the fact that the people on board the Oceanic Viking have indicated that they do not want to get off the boat. Can the minister inform the Senate whether Australian Customs officials on board the Oceanic Viking will be ordered to forcibly remove the illegal entrants if they refuse to disembark, or will they be assisted by Indonesian law enforcement authorities?
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank the senator for the question. The Australian government has negotiated with the Indonesian government that this boatload of potential asylum seekers rescued in international waters in the Indonesian search and rescue zone will be landed—
Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
What are you saying? We can’t hear you.
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
It seems there may be a microphone problem.
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
There might be a problem with the volume on the microphone. Continue, Senator Evans.
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I have never been accused of talking too softly in this chamber; there have in fact occasionally been allegations to the contrary! As I was saying, there is an agreement that these people will be disembarked in Indonesia and then be processed by the UNHCR over any asylum claims they have. We are confident that we will be able to see a successful disembarkation. The Australian authorities are obviously working with Indonesian authorities on how that might occur. We are very confident in the professionalism of the Customs officers on board the vessel, and they will obviously work out a plan of action with Indonesian officials to effect the disembarkation. I might say, though, that it is our intention that they be disembarked in Indonesia. While the passengers may prefer another destination, that is the intention, and we hope to see them disembarked in the near future.
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the comments of the provincial governor of Riau Islands refusing to accept the 78 asylum seekers on board the Oceanic Viking:
We’re not a dumping ground for other countries.
What arrangements have now been made in relation to the 78 asylum seekers, and what was the Prime Minister’s involvement in the decisions about those arrangements? Can the minister guarantee that they will not be taken to Christmas Island?
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank the senator for her question. I am not sure whether she is arguing that they should be taken to Christmas Island or should not. I have heard so many different positions from the opposition on this. But, turning to the first part of her question, I can indicate that the provincial governor seems to have softened his earlier comments and is quoted as saying:
But if it’s an order from Jakarta, we have to accept it.
I note that a spokesperson for President Yudhoyono has clarified Indonesia’s position and that they will be honouring the undertaking from the president that they will cooperate in the disembarkation of those passengers at the Indonesian port. So we expect that agreement to come to fruition, as I say, and we expect those passengers to be disembarked at the port of Kijang.
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, surely the continuing chaos unfolding over the Oceanic Viking highlights the collapse of the Labor government’s handling of Australia’s border protection policy?
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
There was not much of a question there, Mr President, but can I say that this is a complex and difficult matter. Simple assertions do not take you anywhere. As successive—
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Order! Just wait. When there is order on both sides, we will continue.
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Thank you, Mr President. As people are aware, this is an unusual situation in that this was a rescue at sea in the Indonesian search and rescue area. I do not think anyone is suggesting that Australia, given that we had the capacity, went to the—
David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator Johnston interjecting—
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator Johnston, do you not support the rescue of this vessel? Is that your proposition?
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Is that your proposition?
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Is that your proposition?
Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr President, I raise a point of order. Could you please instruct the Leader of the Government in the Senate to direct his remarks through the chair and not directly across the chamber.
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr President, on the point of order: I accept that remarks should be directed through the chair, but Senator Johnston’s continual interjections, seeking to suggest that we should not have rescued those persons, I find offensive. If that is his view, he ought to stand up and state it.
Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
On the point of order, Mr President: I clearly and obviously sit beside Senator Johnston. He did not make any such comment. There was nothing he said that could be interpreted the way the leader has done, and he should apologise.
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: I will raise this shortly. There was no point of order raised; that was merely an explanation to support a colleague. It is inappropriate to use—
Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I am responding to a false point of order because, in the proper management of this chamber, a point of order raised as a mere way of explaining is not a point of order and should not be taken as a point of order.
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Order! I remind senators that interjections across the chamber, from either side, are disorderly. During question time I need to hear the answers to the questions. I know that people in this chamber are also very much aware that comments should not be directed across the chamber when senators are on their feet; they should be directed through the chair. If people on both my left and my right desist from these interjections, we can get on with question time.
Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I indicate that the government restates its view that the rescue of these persons was the appropriate policy response. We also reiterate that the agreement with Indonesia for the disembarkation is the appropriate policy response. (Time expired)