Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, representing the Prime Minister. What is the government's attitude towards the comments of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate in support of Mr Morrison's call for an effective alert list of where refugees and asylum seekers live in Australia? Mr Abetz said this morning:

… I would have thought it'd be a good idea to say that somebody's moving next door to you that might not be able to have all the language skills that you might normally expect, or that they come from a traumatised background.

Are there any registers like this in Australia or other places in the world?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: I am sure Senator Hanson-Young asked the minister for an opinion, and I think that is against the standing orders.

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

There was some interruption during the question. I will review the question at the end of question time. I will allow the question to stand—

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And it was a misrepresentation.

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

That can be corrected at another time, Senator Abetz, if you so wish.

Senator Hanson-Young interjecting—

No, no; I have allowed the question, Senator Hanson-Young. The minister has the call.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. The member for McMillan, a decent and honourable man, has exposed his party's negative immigration policy for what it is. It is a dog whistle. It is not a plan; it is a dog whistle. The Liberals are demonising thousands of people for cheap political purposes—cheap political purposes. One person is before the courts, and it would not be appropriate to comment further on that case. All people in Australia are subject to Australian law. The opposition's campaign of misinformation cannot be allowed to continue, and the member for McMillan is making that point.

These are the facts: before anyone is released from detention, they are subject to a security assessment, including identity checks. People on bridging visas are required by law to report to the immigration department regularly and to advise of any change of address. Any person in Australia is required to abide by the law. Failure to do so should result in criminal proceedings, no matter who they are. The opposition are cynically exploiting the incident which is before the courts, to cause fear and unrest in the broader community. And this continues their relentless negativity in opposition, in which they supported offshore processing but voted against it; they supported the increase in the humanitarian intake to 20,000 people and then changed their minds— (Time expired)

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Isn't this simply a new, disgusting low in base-level politics from the Liberal Party? In saying that, my question to the minister is: are there any registers similar to that described by Senator Abetz in Australia or elsewhere in the world?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

When there is silence, we will proceed—simple.

Honourable senators interjecting—

People wishing to debate the question, you have 35 minutes to wait. The minister.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is hard, I know, Senator Hanson-Young, to believe that they could sink to a new low! It really is hard to believe that on this issue, above all else, they could sink lower. But I have to confess I suspect you could be right. I suspect you could be right that they have found a new low. We have seen the opposition today continue its negative, knee-jerk approach to immigration policy. The party which brought us temporary protection visas now wants an immediate freeze on all bridging visas. We know that the former government had no qualms about leaving people, including women and children, behind razor wire for years while their claims were assessed in Australia. The opposition must now explain how they would pay for their new policy of scrapping bridging visas and keeping people in detention. Those opposite— (Time expired)

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the minister aware of the interview between Mr Morrison and Ray Hadley yesterday morning, when Mr Morrison announced this new low in refugee policy? What powers does ACMA have in relation to broadcasters aiding and abetting the dirty tactics of the Liberal Party?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: you will recall Senator Bernardi's point of order on the primary question. The second supplementary question certainly asked for the minister's advice on a question of law—what are the ACMA's powers—and an opinion. You should rule it out of order.

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

I do not treat it as such at this stage. I will—

Senator Abetz interjecting—

Senator Abetz, I hear you say you are interested in the answer. I am allowing the question to stand, and it is the minister who will address the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can only again point to the member for McMillan and his strong views and criticism of those opposite. I have seen a report, though, Senator Hanson-Young, that possibly you have lodged or are in the process of lodging a complaint with ACMA, so I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on that. I have seen a report on that.

The opposition have an obligation to this country, but now they are announcing policy on the run—policy on the run on a radio station—as to how they are going to pay for all the people they are now going to keep in detention. That is the question that those opposite should be answering. Many people on bridging visas have work rights and are paying for themselves, not being supported by the Commonwealth. Before anyone is released from detention, they are subject, as I have said, to a security assessment—and any person in Australia is required to abide by the law. But the $70 billion hole is not big enough. They are now digging a deeper one— (Time expired)