House debates Questions without Notice
Asylum Seekers
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
3:24 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to reports in the Malaysian press that on Tuesday Malaysian police and RELA had beaten UNHCR card-holding refugees outside government offices, including children, mothers and the elderly who were among 10,000 refugees seeking to comply with the government registration program, and that refugees recognised by the UNHCR had their registration papers marked 'return to home country'. Is the Prime Minister aware of these reports? Does she stand by her minister's declaration under the Migration Act that Malaysia is a country that provides protection to refugees?
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
3:25 pm
You know they have had a bad question time when it comes to this. Yes, I do stand by the minister's statement.
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance.
Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
I asked if she was aware of the report—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for Cook will now leave the chamber for one hour under standing order 94(a).
The member for Cook then left the chamber.