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

I think Senator Cash is either a very slow learner or a poor listener, because yesterday I stated—and I am happy to say it again—that the expert panel report does not recommend temporary protection visas, a measure that in the past saw 68 of those refugees permanently remain in Australia. The report also makes it very clear that towbacks create a risk to the lives of Australian Defence Force personnel and would only ever work in agreement with other countries, something Indonesia has said will not happen. If they continue to ask these questions I can only interpret that the coalition does not care if Australian Defence Force personnel put their lives at risk—