Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a question to the Prime Minister. Given that a convicted terrorist was left behind a pool fence for almost a year and for eight months after being identified, that ministers were kept in the dark and that she was kept in the dark and refused to seek briefings, is the Prime Minister entirely satisfied that this important matter of national security has been adequately handled by the government?

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The imputation in the Leader of the Opposition's question was out of order. The Prime Minister has the call and will disregard the argument and the imputation.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. First, to the Leader of the Opposition: the person he refers to was always in detention, and no rhetorical flourish makes a difference to that. Second, it is the Leader of the Opposition who does not get national security briefings. Third, I can inform the House that today I have directed the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security to examine the management by the Australian government agencies of persons—

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You said that last Friday.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Cook is warned.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had assumed that the opposition would want to hear this; but, as usual, we get the 'national security is a plaything' response, so I will start that sentence again, and maybe we can have some silence and respect in the House for national security—

Opposition members interjecting—

Clearly not, because it is just a game to the opposition. But, I inform those people in the parliament and beyond who are actually seriously concerned—so, to others than the opposition—that today I have directed the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security to examine the management of Australian government agencies of persons seeking asylum who present complex security issues, particularly this case.