Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Having belatedly called an inquiry into the security of our detention system, will the Prime Minister finally concede that having a convicted Egyptian jihadi terrorist behind a pool fence for almost a year has undermined the Australian people's confidence in her government's ability to protect our borders?

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

I refer the Leader of the National Party to my earlier answer and to the shambles we have seen across this parliamentary fortnight from the opposition. He is sitting next to the deputy leader; does he think she has to deal with Indonesia? Yes or no?

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, on a point of order: these remarks are not relevant to the question that has been asked.

Ms Anna Burke (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

I can understand why the Leader of the National Party does not want me to go down that track; it is too embarrassing for them. I refer the Leader of the National Party to my answers across this parliamentary fortnight where I have detailed the facts about ASIO resourcing, as opposed to the opposition's fear campaign; where I have detailed the facts about what we can do to inquire into this matter, as opposed to the silly proposal from the opposition to try and give it to a parliamentary committee without power; where we have dealt with the facts of our relationship with Indonesia, rather than silly claims being made by the opposition; where we have dealt with independent expert advice on asylum seeker and refugee claims, which the opposition refuses to countenance and refuses to listen to.

So I suggest to the Leader of the National Party: (1) our nation is served well by our security agencies, (2) in relation to this particular matter, the person in question was always in detention and (3) I believe that it is appropriate for the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to look at the matter, and that is why I have asked her to do so.