Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Under the improved criminal justice measures, the Australian Federal Police do offer dental X-rays to alleged people-smuggling crew claiming to be minors, in addition to the existing processes, which will commence as soon as possible, taking steps as early as possible to seek information from the individual's country of origin, including birth certificates, where age is contested, and using interview techniques to help to determine age. Where age is not able to be clearly established, the benefit of the doubt will be given to the individual.

In making these determinations, it is true to say that the decisions about prosecutions are taken into account, with all available information, in accordance with the prosecution policy of the Commonwealth. That policy includes a wrist X-ray interpreted by an independent medical expert to determine the person's age, but any additional information about the— (Time expired)