Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. Of the 149 hardcore criminals released by the Albanese government, including many rapists and sex offenders, can the minister advise how many have reoffended since they were released?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand that information is made available through the reporting by the relevant state or territory or the Federal Police—so that information is publicly available.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, it's publicly available, so go and find it. I'm not here to do your homework for you. I'm not here to do your homework. The government's job is to put in place the arrangements that keep the community safe.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Hume?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're happy to wait until you google it, Minister.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume! Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, google yourself. Honestly!

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wow! So mature!

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Come on, Senator McGrath! The issue you raise around the management of the NZYQ case is a serious one, which is why the government has taken it so seriously. That's why the work is being done. That's why, when there is an offence—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Hume?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance. I didn't ask about the management; I just asked about the number.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is being directly relevant to that part of your question, Senator Hume. Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a very precise question in relation to the number. If the minister, for some unknown reason, doesn't have the number in her briefing folders, or if Minister Watt doesn't have it in his, or if they're unwilling for some reason to turn to the relevant page and reveal it, the least the minister can do is take it on notice so the Senate eventually receives the actual answer—rather than telling people to go and google it, when I'm pretty confident you won't find it if you just google it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. As you know, I cannot direct the words that the minister uses to answer questions. The minister has answered that part of the question. It may not have been the answer you were seeking, but she has answered it. Minister, please continue.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has refused to answer it.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I haven't refused to answer it. I have answered it. That information is made public through the relevant law enforcement agencies.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, first supplementary?

Senator Birmingham! You've got one of your own senators on her feet. I've called her to ask her question.

Senator Ruston—equally! Senator Hume.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of the 149 hardcore criminals that were released by the Albanese government, including many rapists and sex offenders, can the minister tell me how many have been rearrested?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's the same question asked a different way. That matter is made public by the relevant law enforcement agencies.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please take your seat.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many have been rearrested?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, I don't see you on your feet. I've got Senator Hume on her feet.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance. The first question was about how many had reoffended. The second question was about how many had been rearrested.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, I believe the minister has completed her answer, so I invite you to put your second supplementary.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the minister doesn't understand the question, I'm happy for her to take the answer on notice. But can the minister guarantee that the remaining hardcore criminals—

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You don't understand the question! You can't even read it out!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Green!

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Excuse me!

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister guarantee that the remaining hardcore criminals—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, I'm sorry, could you resume your seat. Senator Cash, I had called Senator Green to order and you continued to interject over your own senator asking a question. Senator Hume, I invite you to begin again.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister guarantee that the remaining hardcore criminals released by this government, who are still in our community, are in fact being adequately monitored? Can you please make this guarantee on behalf of your government to the people of Victoria, and particularly the women of Victoria, where this last offence occurred?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can guarantee that the government is working with the law enforcement agencies to manage the NZYQ cohort to keep the community safe. Where there are issues, whether it be through visa breaches or offending or committing an offence for which they are charged, the law enforcement agencies do the job that they are meant to do and that we support, and they are doing an extraordinary job. I ask that all further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.