Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate calls on the Government to give parents of newborn babies detained in immigration detention unrestricted access to their children.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion as it is factually inaccurate. The government's policy is to keep families together, including mothers and newborn babies. In some circumstances, such as where babies require special care, access may be slightly more limited, as it would be for anyone in the Australian community since some Australian hospitals do not have the capacity to accommodate mothers overnight with children or babies in special care, regardless of the mothers' visa status. In such cases the department will work with the hospital to obtain as much access for the mothers as is reasonably possible. I indicate that the government will not seek to call a division on this motion, noting that the Greens and the opposition are both voting in favour of it.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a very short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take on board what the minister has said. I would like to clarify that there is nothing in the motion that is inaccurate or misrepresentative. All it calls for is for the government to give parents of newborn babies detained in immigration detention unrestricted access to their children. Either that happens or it does not happen. If it does happen, they should be supporting it; if it does not, now we know why they are voting against.

Question agreed to.