Senate debates
Monday, 25 October 2010
Questions without Notice
Asylum Seekers
2:11 pm
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Just wait a minute, Senator Fisher; you are entitled to be heard in silence.
Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Carr. South Australian Labor Premier Mike Rann says that he found out just one hour before the public announcement about the Gillard government’s decision to house 400 asylum seekers at Inverbrackie in South Australia. Why didn’t the Gillard government consult with the Adelaide community prior to this decision being made? Isn’t this just more of faceless Labor men sitting in Canberra issuing edicts for government and treating local communities with contempt?
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I thank the senator for her question.
Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
‘S’ for South Australia or ‘A’ for Adelaide?
Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator Fisher interjecting—
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Well, given your contribution on detention—
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Ignore the interjections, Senator Carr; they are disorderly. Just address the question.
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The government has taken a decision to place detention facilities in particular locations, having carefully considered the options that are available to it. The decision was actually made on 18 October and it was difficult to consult about a decision that was not actually made prior to that date.
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The decision related to the use of Commonwealth facilities, and department of immigration—
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator Carr, just resume your seat.
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The decision related to the use of Commonwealth land, and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship consulted with the Department of Defence in developing a plan for the Inverbrackie and Northam facilities. The relevant state and local government authorities were advised shortly ahead of Monday’s announcement. In fact there have been a number of public comments that have been made in relation—
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Senator Carr, just resume your seat.
Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Our lips are sealed!
Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Promises, promises!
John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I remind senators that shouting across the chamber is disorderly. Senator Carr is entitled to be heard in silence.
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I am advised that the relevant state and local authorities were advised ahead of Monday’s announcement and, further, that the Defence Families of Australia’s national convenor and the local Army unit at Inverbrackie were also advised ahead of the announcement.
The government is working with these communities to minimise the impact of these new facilities. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is leading full and detailed consultations with all affected stakeholders, including state governments, in the relevant areas. This will include consultation with regard to children’s access to education, clients’ access to health services, and the impacts on local services, amongst other things. The Department of Defence is leading consultation with Defence personnel and their families— (Time expired)
Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. The Prime Minister visited the Adelaide Hills the day before this decision was announced. Minister Bowen says the Prime Minister did not tell the local community when she was there that it would take 400 asylum seekers because ‘the cabinet had not made a decision when the Prime Minister was there’. Wasn’t the Prime Minister aware that a decision was imminent the day before it was announced, when she was there? Or was the decision made for her— (Time expired)
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The senator is quite correct in saying that the Prime Minister was present in the Inverbrackie area the day before the decision was announced. It is not the custom and practice of governments of any description to announce decisions of cabinet before they are actually made. Of course, the matter could not be raised because it was to be discussed by the cabinet. We have a simple proposition here that I suggest senators opposite give some thought to. This is an important element of our approach to this country’s international obligations to properly house people who come to these shores. We are providing proper facilities in a proper manner and consulting with the local communities about the way in which— (Time expired)
Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Yet another boat—putting 64 more lives at risk. This takes to a total of 110 the number of boats to arrive in Australian waters in 2010 and the total number of people on board to 5,523. When will the government admit that another boat is another policy failure?
Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Those opposite ought to bear in mind that their policies were a complete failure. Their policies asserted, by way of slogan, that you can stop the boats, which is totally in contradiction of the facts. The claim that new facilities will result in more boat arrivals is equally untrue. From 1999 to 2000, some 12,000 asylum seekers arrived on this country’s shores—12,000 in that short period of time. There are peaks and troughs in the way people are moved to this country. The government is ensuring that there are appropriate facilities and that this matter is dealt with in an orderly manner. The government is ensuring that our international obligations are met while at the same time protecting Australia’s borders. We are ensuring that new facilities are able to ensure that we have proper— (Time expired)