Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Is the minister seriously suggesting that a rapist is continuously monitored because they have periodic reporting requirements?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

I will allow the question. Given the way it was phrased, I just wanted to make sure it was relevant to the minister's portfolio.

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

As I have repeatedly informed the House, because of the four layers of protection that we have put in place and because of the arrangements that we have stood up, including Operation AEGIS, which is enabling the coordination, of course it is the case that we are able to know the location of every individual in this cohort. I remind the member, as I said a moment ago, of what the Australian Federal Police acting deputy commissioner said last night:

I don't think there's any difficulty in knowing where they are.

That's the whole cohort. He also said:

… they're monitored through the mechanism of those clauses that are placed upon them, which are quite restrictive.

We support the work of our law enforcement agencies, and we also have confidence in the trusted officials of the Community Protection Board, who are providing advice to government on this cohort.