Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Foreign Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the comments caught on microphone last Friday between Minister Dutton and the Prime Minister, laughing about sea level rise in small island states. Although Mr Abbott thought it was hilarious, the Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands disagrees. He said:

Next time waves are battering my home [and] my grandkids are scared, I'll ask Peter Dutton to come over, and we'll see if he is still laughing.

Is the government still laughing, or are Minister Dutton's comments an acknowledgement from this government that global warming would devastate those island communities and that cabinet is willing to let that happen?

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

Mr Dutton made an unfortunate joke in the course of a private conversation, for which he has apologised. As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the matter.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. When our neighbours called out for help to tackle climate change, the government refused and then laughed about it. The President of Kiribati said:

It shows a sense of moral irresponsibility quite unbecoming of leadership in any capacity.

To say that our diplomatic relationships are being tested is an understatement. What is the minister or DFAT now doing to try to clean up the government's offensive diplomatic blunder?

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

That is a question that, even from you, Senator Waters, is so ridiculous that I am embarrassed to hear it asked. But I will tell you what we are doing for Pacific nations and for our neighbours in the south-west Pacific in relation to the problem of climate change. We are spending over $50 million on climate resilience related projects throughout the Pacific: in Kiribati, in Fiji and in other Pacific nations. We are supporting national weather and climate services in 14 of the Pacific nations, and that is only a small proportion of the foreign aid budget of this country, which—as you should know, Senator Waters—is concentrated primarily in our region. Placing the focus of our foreign aid budget on our region is one of the reforms that this government has undertaken, and that is a lot more important than an unfortunate joke.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. It is an unfortunate government indeed. I note that Minister Dutton has now belatedly given an apology, although a qualified one. But Minister Dutton's sick joke about our neighbours' losing their homes—

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you have a question?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Macdonald!

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

is just the latest in a long line of unacceptable behaviour and decisions. The immigration minister has presided over the detention and sexual assault of asylum seekers, spying on members of parliament and now laughing at climate change. When will Minister Dutton be dumped?

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

It is disgraceful to say of any minister that he 'has presided over … sexual assault'. What a disgraceful thing to say, Senator Waters! You should withdraw that.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And she should.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. I think, Senator Waters, you should withdraw that comment. That was an unparliamentary comment directed towards a member of the other house.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise to make a point of order on relevance.

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Can we deal with this other matter first.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Dutton was the relevant minister at the time.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, but there was an innuendo there, and it would be easier if you would just withdraw that.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I stand by my remarks. He was the relevant minister at the relevant time. That is what the definition of 'presiding over' is.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Waters, it is not so much what you say; it is the context in which you say things which affects whether it is ruled unparliamentary or not. There was an innuendo in what you said, and I do believe that you should withdraw that comment. I respectfully ask you to withdraw it. Senator Di Natale, I do not need any assistance in this matter. I have asked the senator to withdraw.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. Your ruling implied incorrectly that there was an innuendo in what was said. There is no innuendo here. He did preside over systematic sexual abuse going on in offshore detention centres. There is no innuendo, just fact.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Di Natale, I will not entertain any other points of order until I have dealt with the one from Senator Waters. Senator Waters, you are going to put me into a position where I will have to invoke standing order 203 if you do not comply with what I think is my reasonable request to withdraw that comment.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I will rephrase my question. Minister Dutton was the minister—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. Order! I do not need any assistance, nor does Senator Waters. Senator Waters, I think the action is quite clear. I am being reasonable and asking you to withdraw that comment. I do not want any further debate.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will withdraw if I can rephrase. Minister Dutton was the immigration minister at the time of the revelations of the detention and sexual assault of asylum seekers, at the time of revelations about spying on member of parliament and at the time of laughing at climate change. When will he be dumped?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Waters. Attorney-General, had you concluded your answer or do you have more to contribute to your answer?

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

I will resume my answer. Senator Waters, you attack Mr Dutton. Mr Dutton is the second consecutive coalition immigration minister on whose watch no boats arrived and no-one drowned at sea. Senator Waters, if you and your party had had your way, those policies that saved more than a thousand lives would never have been implemented. Furthermore, although your leader had the good grace to congratulate the government last week, if it were not for the fact that Mr Dutton was one of the two ministers who secured Australia's borders, we would not have been able to give new lives and new hope to 12,000 genuinely needy people from Syria.