Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

Of course Australia remains committed to all of our obligations in that regard. I can assure the Senate that the government is focused on supporting the whole-of-government efforts to combat people-smuggling activity and irregular people movement, and is collaborating across the region on immigration matters at both the operational and technical levels and on ongoing work to increase protection space in our region.

As Senator Milne would be aware, Australia is co-chair with Indonesia of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. The Bali Process is the only grouping in the Asia-Pacific region that brings together representatives from source, transit and destination countries to address irregular migration. As I said before, this is a process we are committed to and we encourage all parties to continue an open negotiation with government to resolve this matter once and for all.