Ewen Jones (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister correct her claim yesterday that reopening Nauru would cost $1 billion, given that the total cost of processing asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island over the six years they operated was just $289 million? To the member who asked the question, I would direct him to the costing that the minister for immigration released. To the member who asked the question, I would also perhaps direct him to some very simple facts about how far away Nauru is and what the logistical problems with Nauru are. I actually visited the detention centre in Nauru. I am in a different position—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They said you liked it. That's what they told us.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister has the call. She should be heard in silence.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I actually visited the detention centre in Nauru and I have some direct experience with briefings on the logistical challenges of maintaining a detention centre in Nauru. I received them then, when I was shadow minister for immigration, and certainly we have received them in government. What the member might want to recognise is how far away it is and the fact that all resources need to be flown to Nauru—

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was just as far away before.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cook!

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and the costs of sustaining Australian staff on Nauru. I direct him to the minister for immigration's costings.

I say to the member: the thing he will be required to exercise his vote on in this parliament is where I believe the Australian people are looking for us to act in the national interest. I know as soon as I say 'national interest' the opposition objects. I am not surprised by that.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will be required to vote on legislation which is in the national interest and is about enabling—

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All right. The Prime Minister will resume her seat. I ignored the member for Cook a moment ago and I remind him of his status in the House and that he was mentioned by me earlier in the question.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr Speaker, on relevance: she was asked about costings.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister was asked a question and the only point of order pertaining to it is direct relevance. I will listen carefully to the response and the House will remain in order so that I can hear that response.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on the point of order, in the past you have ruled that the only person who can raise a point of order on relevance is the person who asked the question.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In conclusion, I say to the member who asked the question and to all members of this parliament that the way in which they exercise their vote on the amendments to the Migration Act should be in the national interest.

Opposition members interjecting—

I know discussion of the national interest enlivens interjections from the opposition. Perhaps they should save their energy from interjection and think what the national interest is. It is in the national interest that governments make appropriate arrangements for offshore processing. To the member who asked the question: I acknowledge that he probably very seriously believes that there should be a policy about an offshore processing centre on Nauru, but he should vote for legislation to enable that and enable the government to implement its offshore processing plan. That is in the national interest. This cheap politics is not.