Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to take note of a question that was asked during question time relating to Mr Peter Dutton. I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator Di Natale today relating to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Mr Dutton).

Today I asked Minister Brandis why it is that the Prime Minister would describe the immigration minister as 'thoughtful' and 'compassionate'—

The Acting Deputy President:

Senator Brandis on a point of order.

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

The point I was trying to make is that you do not take note of questions; you take note of answers.

The Acting Deputy President:

For the sake of clarity, Senator Di Natale is taking note of answers supplied by Senator Brandis.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today the Prime Minister's response to the immigration minister, who described the wave of Lebanese Muslims to Australia as a 'mistake', was that the minister is both 'thoughtful' and 'compassionate'—this from a man who has made jokes about Pacific islands losing their lands; this from a man who, when asylum seekers were detained in our concentration camps and set themselves on fire, blamed lawyers and advocates; this from a man who talks about asylum seekers and innocent people as illiterate, innumerate and taking Australian jobs. This has now become a reflection of the Prime Minister's judgement. The time has come for the Prime Minister to declare where he stands. He either stands with multiculturalism or he stands with Minister Dutton. It is time for the Minister Dutton to go.

Question agreed to.