Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that ASIO data confirms that people who arrive illegally by boat are more than 20 times more likely to receive a negative security clearance or qualified assessment after security checks than all other immigration cases ASIO reviews. Given this heightened level of risk among illegal boat arrivals and that these are only light-touch assessments, does the Prime Minister maintain such security assessments are satisfactory?

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has to call.

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

Thank you very much, Speaker. There is no mystery why the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is asking this question today. I have been asked questions about this kind of matter all week by the Leader of the Opposition, only to have it revealed that he has not been briefed by ASIO once during the term of this parliament. So I am not at all surprised that when it comes to matters involving ASIO the opposition approaches these matters with so little knowledge and so little understanding, because the Leader of the Opposition has shown so little care to become informed.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will return to the question.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I am asking about ASIO data that confirms that people who arrive by boat are 20 times more likely—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to receive a negative assessment.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat! I was in the process of asking the Prime Minister to return to the question when you stood up. The Prime Minister will return to the question before the chair.

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

Thank you very much, and to the deputy leader's question: if the Leader of the Opposition is interested in these matters, then some time he may seek to avail himself of a briefing from ASIO. ASIO is obviously a very important enforcement agency for our national security and if the Leader of the Opposition ever has the slightest thought about national security he may want to allocate the time for a briefing. On the question of security assessments undertaken by ASIO—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume her seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order other than relevance.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, you quite correctly asked the Prime Minister to address the question that she was asked and she is totally ignoring your ruling.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If she doesn't want to answer the question she should admit it.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business is on very thin ice. The Prime Minister has the call and will return to the question before the chair.

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

On the question of security assessments by ASIO, the government is satisfied by present arrangements.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a supplementary question. Is the Prime Minister aware that the current security assessments for illegal boat arrivals that she claims are satisfactory were described by her own department of immigration as 'a light touch'?

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

To the Deputy Leader of the Opposition: once again if the opposition wants to seriously come to grips with these questions please get a briefing. In terms of arrangements—

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, I have had briefings. That is why I know it is called a light touch.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I asked if the Prime Minister agrees that it is a—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. The Prime Minister has the call and will be relevant to the question before the chair.

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

My offer was obviously to the opposition leader too. The government is satisfied with the arrangements that have been made for security briefings.