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

I, and also on behalf of Senator Carr, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the failure of the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Senator Cash) to comply with the order of the Senate of 14 November 2013 by noon on 18 November 2013, and

(ii) that tabling publically available information such as transcripts and operational updates is a failure to comply with the order, and that tabling of other publically available information would still represent a failure to comply with this order;

(b) orders the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Senator Cash) to comply with the order by 5 pm on Wednesday, 4 December 2013; and

(c) does not accept the claims of public interest immunity made by the Minister in respect of the documents ordered by the Senate to be tabled, or the grounds for making these claims.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion moved on behalf of members of the Labor-Green alliance. As previously stated, Operation Sovereign Borders is a military-led border security operation. It has clear, established communication protocols designed by the Joint Agency Task Force, led by Lieutenant General Campbell, to support the effectiveness of the operation. These procedures ensure that people smugglers do not use official information to sell and promote their product and create false perceptions amongst potential illegal immigrants to Australia. In addition to previously tabled documents, the government have offered to provide confidential briefings on Operation Sovereign Borders. The Greens have not accepted our offer; however, the opposition have. The government are therefore surprised that the opposition support this motion as they know that the release of operational information will only help people smugglers and only serves to weaken our borders, compromise operational security, prejudice active operations and risk lives. (Time expired)

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is the motion moved by Senator Hanson-Young be agreed to.