Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

I will briefly respond to the minister's comments on the custodial sentence of 12 months or more, the reason the government has adopted that definition of more than 12 months and the fact that it was the same under the former Howard government—in particular when Mr Ruddock was minister for immigration. I would merely state that you are right; it was. However, the fundamental difference, as I outlined in my speech during the second reading debate, was that Minister Ruddock took it upon himself to undertake and use the discretionary powers that were available to him in, I believe I stated, over 500 circum­stances, which is fundamentally, diamet­rically opposite to the use of the powers by ministers under a Labor government.

Question put:

That the amendment (Senator Cash's)be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [21:25]

(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.

Bill reported without amendments; report adopted.