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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash, please explain to the chamber how the government intends to respond to reports by Amnesty International that Australia's treatment of refugees and asylum seekers locked up on Manus Island equates to torture?

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

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for her question. In relation to the allegations made in the Amnesty International report, I think it is very clear to all of those who have followed the last five years in terms of the debacle that the other side caused in relation to our border protection that Amnesty International does not like offshore processing, as does not Senator Hanson-Young. In relation to this government's reinstatement of offshore processing, I can only say to the Senate that we are going to see report after report after report coming out from Amnesty International. Amnesty International, however, would not have had to make this report if this government did not have to clean up the mess, Senator Hanson-Young, that you created when you unwound the former government's border protection policies. There would not be people on Manus Island—there would not be people on Nauru—if you had not sided with the former Rudd government, the former Gillard government and the former Rudd government, to name the three Labor governments, and rolled back the Howard government's Pacific solution and temporary protection visas. You are only asking these questions today because of the actions you took when you were in an unholy formal alliance with those on the other side. You need to come into this chamber for once and for all and take responsibility for your own actions in this regard. Offshore processing works. We proved it under the former Howard government, and we will prove it again under the current Abbott government.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Wait a minute, Senator Hanson-Young. When the chamber settles down, I will give you the call. Order!

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I find it astonishing that the minister refuses to take any responsibility for the torturing of refugees on Manus Island.

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

You need to come to a question.

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

Can the minister please provide to the chamber an explanation regarding reports that refugees detained on Manus Island are restricted to less than 500 millilitres of water a day despite temperatures reaching highs of 40 degrees?

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

Unfortunately, Senator Hanson-Young needs to learn that you do not believe everything that Amnesty International finds. It has been reported that drinking water is restricted to 500 millilitres per day. I will confirm for the Senate that those reports are completely untrue and transferees have unrestricted access to bottled water.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I would take Amnesty International's words over the liars on the other side any day.

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

Order! You need to withdraw that. You cannot say that.

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

Okay, I will withdraw, Mr President. I would take the words of Amnesty International over the absolute mistruth of the government on that side any day when it comes to the human rights of people.

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

Order! Where is your question? You have 12 seconds to ask your question.

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

Given the High Court has ruled against the government again this afternoon on the indefinite detention of Ranjini—

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

Order! Your time for asking the question has expired. That is why people should not be making statements at the front of questions.