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

I thank Senator Fierravanti-Wells for the question. I notice that she is quoting from yesterday’s Australian. At least earlier in the week the quotes were from the same day. But it is the case that there was an article in the Australian which talked about people paying people-smugglers when seeking to come by air. It is a reality that we have had people seeking to enter Australia unlawfully by air and by boat for many years. What the article really implies is that it is more expensive to come by air as a result of the charges that occur. That is probably right.

The airport and air-arrival security arrangements are strong. They are the same ones that existed under the previous government. We do have to deal people arriving in an unauthorised manner. But I make the point that most people arrive with valid travel documentation; most people who then seek asylum in this country actually arrive with valid documentation. We have very strict multilayered systems for detecting people trying to enter by air or by ship. As I said, when they arrive they have to present their documentation—their passport, their visas et cetera. What we know is that last year there were 1,284 people refused immigration clearance at Australian airports. That represented one-tenth of a per cent of the 26 million arrivals and departures at the border in that year. About 90 per cent of those who were refused immigration clearance departed Australia within 72 hours, in most cases on the next available flight. So we generally turn the vast majority around straightaway if they do not have valid papers. (Time expired)