Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I inform the chamber that Senators McKim, Keneally and McCarthy will also sponsor this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators McKim, Keneally and McCarthy, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) asylum seekers Priya and Nades and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa were forcibly removed from their community in Biloela, in regional Queensland, in March 2018,

(ii) the family was initially placed in detention in Melbourne but was flown to Christmas Island in August 2019 after moves to deport them to Sri Lanka were interrupted by a last-minute injunction,

(iii) despite continued calls from members of the Biloela community for the family to be returned to the regional town, Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram told Estimates in October 2020 that the family was being held on Christmas island for their 'safety, welfare and wellbeing',

(iv) three of the Tamil family have had their claims for asylum denied, and the family is awaiting the outcome for their three year old daughter Tharunicaa's protection claim, and

(v) the family has spent more than 1000 days in detention, including two Christmases on Christmas Island, separated from their supporters and their friends in Biloela; and

(b) calls on the Government to return the family to Biloela for Christmas, a place where they have consistent and committed community support and can live among friends while Tharunicaa's case is finalised.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia has one of the most generous humanitarian programs in the world. However, the continued success of this program is only made possible by maintaining an orderly and fair system. The Murugappan family's claims to engage Australia's protection obligations have been comprehensively assessed on a number of occasions by Home Affairs and various merits review bodies. These decisions have been appealed through the Federal Court and to the High Court. At no time has any member of the family in question been found to be owed protection. The government will never return to the failed policies of the opposition, which compromised our humanitarian program and resulted in more than 1,200 deaths at sea.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since the entry of more than 50,000 illegal maritime arrivals during the chaotic years of the Rudd-Gillard government—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Listen to it.

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

Order!

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

6,600 illegal economic migrants have been returned to their home countries. The individuals in question in this motion have been offered the same opportunity but instead have chosen to challenge the Australian people and our governments at a cost of roughly $10 million. The federal government has found on a number of occasions that the individuals are not refugees. I support the Minister for Home Affairs in his efforts to have these illegal maritime arrivals sent back to the safety of their Sri Lankan homeland. One Nation do not support humanitarian queue jumpers but do support those genuine refugees who come to Australia to adopt our way of life, who work and who don't try to change us as a nation. We will not support this motion.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is not granted. The question is that motion 932 be agreed to.