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

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. I refer the minister to the government's policy on enterprise migration agreements of at least a year ago, which states:

The decision as to whether a project will have access to an EMA is entirely at the minister's discretion.

Does the minister regard his handling of the Roy Hill enterprise migration agreement as being so poor that the exercise of his discretion requires the greater oversight promised by the Prime Minister and as resolved by his caucus today?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No question for 250 days and then two in two days; it is my lucky week, Madam Deputy Speaker! The situation is very clear. The minister for immigration approves enterprise migration agreements. That is the situation; that is the continuing situation. In relation to caucus discussions, which of course we do not discuss in detail, it was a very positive discussion this morning which recognised the benefits of enterprise migration agreements, so I am glad the opposition even recognises those. As I said in my previous answer, I have discussed with and updated informally the productivity committee of the cabinet in relation to this enterprise migration agreement. I continue to work with my colleagues on the productivity committee of the cabinet, and the situation is that the minister for immigration approves enterprise migration agreements.