Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. Mr President, yesterday the minister said that ‘there is no special deal’ for the asylum seekers on the Oceanic Viking, yet his department has guaranteed them that ‘a highly professional team of Australian officers will be working with you every day to assist you in the process’. Additionally, they have been promised resettlement within 12 weeks and access to English classes. If this is not a special deal, Minister, then why are these premium services not offered to other asylum seekers who have been waiting for years to be resettled in Australia?