George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, although I am not aware of the statements of this gentleman from the New Guinean government, I can tell you that I am advised that the 60 asylum seekers of whom you speak are people who have not been assessed to be refugees. Whatever protection obligations may attach to the government of New Guinea are protection obligations that attach to people either who have been assessed to be refugees or whose claim to be assessed as refugees is underway. I am advised that these 60 people are people whose claim to be refugees has been rejected by the appropriate authorities.