Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. Given that there have been four unauthorised boat arrivals in four days, carrying 137 people including crew, will the minister outline the government’s plans to accommodate this influx of unlawful immigrants, keeping in mind that the existing facilities on Christmas Island are operating either at or near full capacity?

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

I thank Senator Kroger for her question. Senator Kroger, in accordance with—

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Talk to the President; you’ve been here too long.

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

Some would say that you have been here too long, Senator Macdonald.

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

Order! Senator Evans, direct your comments through the chair.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I will try to get the answer out over the interjections. Senator Kroger and the Senate would be aware that the Rudd Labor government has retained the excision of offshore islands, offshore processing at Christmas Island and mandatory detention of irregular maritime arrivals. Therefore, those persons who have arrived unlawfully in the last few days will be taken to Christmas Island where they will be mandatorily detained.

They will be detained in the detention facilities that the Howard government built in anticipation of this problem, they will be given the normal health, identity and security checks, and they will have any claims for asylum considered. We will be able to accommodate the most recent arrivals in the detention centre on Christmas Island. As I have advised the Senate before, we have also been increasing the capacity on Christmas Island in recent times, and there are plans for further capacity to be built in order to ensure that we have the capability of processing unauthorised arrivals on Christmas Island. They will be taken to Christmas Island, they will be detained, they will go through the normal health, identity and security checks, and they will have any claims for asylum assessed. If they are found to be genuine refugees, they will be resettled. If they are found not to be genuine refugees, they will be returned to their country of origin.

Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Thank you for that answer, Minister. Given the staggering increase in numbers, is the government considering a tent city expansion of the Christmas Island detention centre as a temporary measure, or is consideration being given to accommodating the overflow on the mainland of Australia?

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

As I made clear, we are increasing the capacity on Christmas Island as a response to the increased number of arrivals. We have a range of contingency measures available, including additional accommodation in buildings other than those that have been traditionally used for detention. If absolutely required we have tents available, as used under the previous government. But, as you would be aware, we also have organised for transportable buildings—better known in Western Australia as dongas—to be transported from the Northern Territory to Christmas Island to provide additional capacity. Those will be coming online in the next month or so. So we are providing additional capacity to ensure that we can meet what we need to do on Christmas Island.

Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Given that a boat per day is being apprehended as a result of the Prime Minister’s special deals for those on the Oceanic Viking, will the minister be more specific and clearly outline the government’s time frame for managing and accommodating the increasing number of unauthorised arrivals?

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

I thought I had answered that question. Can I just say that we have a range of contingencies on the island to deal with increased numbers, some of which we have already brought online. We also have a range of other contingencies that we can use. Obviously the numbers vary. Some people are returned. I think we have had 119 or so people returned to their country of origin when they were found not to be refugees. Six men were returned to Sri Lanka on the weekend, so they are no longer accommodated on Christmas Island. We also have people resettled—people found to be refugees who come off the island. I would make clear to you that it is our intention to accommodate people on Christmas Island. I have made it clear for months that we have the Northern Immigration Detention Centre in Darwin if required, but we have the capacity and increased capacity on Christmas Island to deal with the current numbers. That is our first preference. We think that these recent arrivals will be accommodated there. (Time expired)