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

I thank Senator Humphries for his question. I am not sure whether Senator Humphries was at Senate estimates on Tuesday, 20 October 2009, but Senator Fierravanti-Wells and I traversed this ground then. I would recommend that you read that Hansard, because I went through very carefully why we had taken the action that we had, what process I had put in place and what advice I had sought to ensure that we maximised our capacity to pursue convictions for anyone who was found to have done the wrong thing or who was referred by the coroner back to the police. I am very well aware of what my powers are but on every occasion I have taken advice as to how we would maximise the Commonwealth’s interest in prosecuting successfully anyone who may have acted unlawfully or criminally while on that boat. We have sought at every stage to seek the appropriate advice so as to maximise that possibility.

I remind the senator that when considering these matters last year I specifically engaged with the Northern Territory Police to seek their views on whether or not we ought to grant the visas, being aware that the power of cancellation remained with me if charges were laid.