Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. The government initially said that no legislation was possible, following the High Court decision, but days later the government has introduced legislation, without the full High Court judgement having been handed down. Why is it not possible for the government to implement a preventive detention regime which would have prevented these 84 hardcore criminals being released into the community and creating a risk to the safety of Australians?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. I give the call to the minister—

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's Thursday and you're in parliament. You have to answer questions.

Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ask another one, Dan.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I give the call to the minister—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! No-one will be interjecting until I call the minister. Order! I give the call to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, shadow minister, for the question, but the premise upon which it proceeds just simply isn't true. We've never said that.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my left. I give the call—

Honourable members interjecting—

When the House comes to order—

The member for Bowman will cease interjecting, or be warned, so I can hear from the member for Hawke.