Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, who have both denied that the Abbott government paid money to people smugglers. Were they telling the truth?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr, unlike the government of which you were a member, all ministers of our government tell the truth at all times. As you know, we do not discuss operational matters. But I can assure you that, at all times, Australia has acted within the law.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the Prime Minister's refusal to deny that this government paid money to people smugglers. Who was right—the foreign minister and the immigration minister, or the Prime Minister?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Carr, I have to admire your chutzpah raising the subject of people smuggling in this chamber, when you were a member of a government that lost control of our borders. You sat around a cabinet table that made decisions that sent 1,100 or more people to their deaths; you sat around a cabinet table and made decisions that saw people smugglers put back into business in Indonesia; you sat around a cabinet table which saw decisions that resulted in more than 800 boats—more than 50,000 people—arrive on our shores. This government, the Abbott government, has stopped the problem you created, and we make no apologies for our success.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, it is a simple question: did the Abbott government pay money or bribes to people smugglers?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Abbott government has taken the necessary measures to succeed where you have failed and at all times has complied with the law.