Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Fifield representing the Minister for Home Affairs. Minister, I refer you to the case of a 63-year-old Hazara man who sought asylum in Australia and is currently being held by your government on Nauru. This man is currently dying of lung cancer and needs palliative care which cannot be provided in Nauru. Why is it that your government is refusing to allow this man, who is dying as we speak, to receive the palliative care that he so desperately needs in Australia?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McKim. I don't have before me details on the particular situation to which you're referring.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given it's been quite widely reported in the media, that surprises me, Minister. Can you confirm that your government has offered, in fact, to transfer this man to—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, please pause. I'm going to insist that I can hear the questions for inevitable points of order.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you confirm that your government has offered to transfer the man to Taiwan, where the AMA notes:

There is no Hazara community… he has no friends or family there, no-one to translate from his language, and no-one to perform the Shia Muslim rituals after his death.

Why do you want this man to die lonely and unsupported? (Time expired)

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You disgusting grub!

Senator Wong interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, there were a number of insults going around the chamber, but I did not hear the word you just used.

Senator Wong interjecting—

I didn't hear it. Senator Wong, on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm reluctant to have to do it but the word was used by Senator Macdonald, as he regularly does. I ask him to withdraw it. Do you want me to repeat it?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the operation of the chamber, Senator Macdonald, and to continue question time, I'll ask you to withdraw that.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If 'grub' is unparliamentary—and I must say I never knew that, after my time here—I withdraw it.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will come back to the chamber with advice on that word. Senator Hinch, did you have a point of order?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was used at this end of the chamber during that exchange.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you asking for someone to withdraw?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If Senator Macdonald has to withdraw, I would ask Senator McKim to withdraw.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim?

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Fifield, I will ask you to answer the part of the question which was asked during the time limit.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim's question is based on an appalling and false assumption, which I reject. As I indicated before, I'm not aware of the particular case to which Senator McKim refers. Regardless, it is not the practice to comment on individual and specific cases. Medical transfer decisions occur on a case-by-case basis according to clinical need, in consultation with the contracted health services provider and the government of Nauru. Australia has provided significant funding and support over a number of years to improve the health infrastructure in Nauru, but that is as far as I can take this.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, a final supplementary question.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This man will die lonely and unsupported because of your government. Minister, given your government's shameful record of ripping refugee families apart, when you look at the images of children being ripped apart from their parents and thrown into cages in the US, do you have pride that your policies are now being imitated overseas?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very pleased that this government has put in place border protection policies which have effectively resulted in the people-smuggling business being put out of business when it comes to seeking to promise people that they can have particular immigration outcomes in Australia if they pay and put themselves in harm's way courtesy of the people smuggler. I'm very pleased that that trade is effectively out of business. We've got to make sure that that trade remains out of business, and that can be secured by ensuring that we maintain the effort, which we are under this government, and that we do not give the opportunity to others in this place who would seek to dismantle those arrangements and see the people smugglers back in business and people put in harm's way.