Karen Andrews McPherson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs
3:03 pm
My question is for the Prime Minister. Last night it was revealed the Minister for Home Affairs received departmental advice highlighting the importance of temporary protection visas as deterrents that support Operation Sovereign Borders. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that the dumping of TPVs won't provide an incentive for people smugglers, compromise our border protection and reopen our borders?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
3:04 pm
I thank the member for her question. She refers to last night, and I assume she's referring to Senate estimates, where Mike Pezzullo was asked the following question:
Mr Pezzullo, I've just noticed some media reporting … Did the department advise against the changes to TPVs as announced today?
Mr Pezzullo: No.
No, in a word. He was asked:
Unequivocally no?
Mr Pezzullo: No … The government, I can assure you, has listened to advice and has put in place the appropriate mitigation, so the short answer … about whether the government has acted contrary to advice, I would say, is no.
Karen Andrews McPherson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs
No, I seek to table a document. I seek to table the relevant page of the incoming minister's brief.
Milton Dick Speaker
That's not the procedure. Are you asking the Prime Minister to table it, or are you tabling it?
Karen Andrews McPherson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs
I'm seeking to table. I'm seeking to table the relevant page of the incoming minister's brief, which makes it very clear what advice was given to the Minister for Home Affairs.
Milton Dick Speaker
That wasn't relevant to the question. But I'll hear from the Leader of the House.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
In terms of the procedure, leave can be sought to have a document tabled that the minister or Prime Minister was referring to. The document the Prime Minister referred to was a transcript from last night's proceedings, and so, if that's sought to be tabled—
Then you're outside the standing orders.
Milton Dick Speaker
That's not the time to table that document, so resume your seat.
Order, the Minister for Home Affairs! Can I have silence so I can hear the member for Bean.