Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Let me just clarify, Senator: I said that, since the national cabinet met on 18 September, over 40,800 have returned from overseas, including more than 16,000 Australians registered with DFAT. That is not necessarily specifically of the 26,200. There will be a component of the 26,200 plus others. I will get the senator that other number.

I know that Senator Keneally and those opposite have been discussing these issues for some time. In fact, I understand Senator Keneally's interview with Mr Fordham this morning referred to this. It is clear that those opposite do understand the process of national caps and the management of the quarantine and the number of arrivals that that restricts us to dealing with in Australia. We are working closely with the states and territories in relation to that, because we know what happens when quarantine goes wrong— (Time expired)