Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 2 November 2012:

(1) Have Sri Lankan authorities, including the Sri Lankan Navy, ever informed Australian officials of illegal boats arriving in or on their way to Australia; if so, can details be provided including but not limited to: the date, time, method and nature of communication, the agency/agencies notified and any action taken by the agency/agencies notified.

(2) Have Sri Lankan authorities ever expressed a view that a boat or boats, of which the authorities may have informed Australian officials, should be returned to Sri Lanka, or that the authorities would be willing to aid in the return of the boat/s; if so, can details be provided including but not limited to: the date, time, method and nature of communication, the agency/agencies notified and any action taken by the agency/agencies notified.

(3) Did the Minister, Minister's office or any agency instruct the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to intercept any boat before it entered Australian waters; if so, can details be provided including but not limited to: the date, time, method and nature of communication, the agency/agencies notified and any action taken by the agency/agencies notified.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) These are matters for the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs and Defence. However, Sri Lankan agencies have not approached the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on this issue.

(2) As for (1) above.

(3) The Minister or the Minister's office did not instruct the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to intercept any boat before it entered Australian waters.