Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

No, I do not accept the propositions put by Senator Fierravanti-Wells. Making wild allegations is no substitute for proper policy development. I understand Mr Andrews has been working away on that, among other things, but all we have seen from you in the way of policy development is the decision to return to failed temporary protection visas. I make the key point in relation to this particular slur: the majority of asylum applications made in this country onshore are made by people who arrive lawfully. They make that application while lawful in the community. They have them assessed. If they are not granted asylum, they are returned to their country of origin. That is the process that applied under the previous government. It is the one that applies under us. There has been no change to the way we deal with those people.