Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Can the minister confirm whether the Afghan family who recently arrived by boat in the Torres Strait are still being held incommunicado in Brisbane? Is it true that the 11-year-old boy has a serious medical condition and has just had an operation with serious ongoing medical consequences? Is it also true that the Red Cross has requested access to the family to check on their welfare but has so far not been allowed to have any access? Will the minister grant this family a humanitarian visa or a residence determination so that they can stay in Australia, where their son’s medical condition can be cared for, whilst their asylum claim is assessed?