Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

These matters are always taken very serious­ly. The government remains committed to ensuring greater clarity around the command structures and the roles and responsibilities of the department, detention centre service providers, Australian Federal Police and state and territory law enforcement agencies. Why? Because the Department of Immigra­tion and Citizenship is working with the Australian Federal Police and all state and territory law enforcement agencies to ensure appropriate policing responses are provided throughout the detention network. So it is not only limited to particular incidents. I note that the senator has isolated one incident, but it is dealt with on a broader scale than that. This will be facilitated through a memoran­dum of understanding currently under development. The decision to develop an MOU was made before these issues came to prominence in the Villawood riots in April 2011. As a result, the department is actively progressing the MOU as a matter of priority with state and territory law enforcement agencies. Once finalised, the MOU will address issues concerning jurisdictional responsibilities and implement specific protocols for the responsibilities of the various state and territory police forces and the Australian Federal Police. Discussions to progress an MOU between DIAC and the various state and federal police services—but specifically New South Wales—are ongoing. There are interim measures— (Time expired)