House debates Questions without Notice

Asylum Seekers

Wednesday, 17 March 2010 House of Representatives

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

2:39 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. It is simple, it is clear and it should not require him to read any briefing notes.

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Joel Fitzgibbon

Joel Fitzgibbon Hunter, Australian Labor Party

Mr Fitzgibbon interjecting

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

The member for Hunter is warned. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

My question to the Prime Minister is concerning the passengers on SIEV 36. Will he now revoke the visas of those passengers who, according to the coroner, were found—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

Order! The Leader of the Opposition has the call, and if there is an expectation from both sides of the House that people be listened to, those on my right might sit in silence for at least 10 seconds.

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

Concerning the passengers on SIEV 36, will he now revoke the visas of those three individuals who were found by the Northern Territory Coroner to be involved in a plan to set fire to the vessel?

Kevin Rudd

Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

I am glad the Leader of the Opposition repeated the question, because I would have asked him to read it again given the general hubbub! Let me answer his question in three parts: (1) the coroner has delivered his report; (2) it has gone to the NT Police to determine whether charges were made; (3) the immigration minister will make his determination once those decisions have been made.