Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKim for the question. I understand you are referring to an incident that occurred in February 2021 in which a male detainee was seen on the roof of a building at Villawood detention centre. I will need to take that on notice and get you some further advice. In relation to the Biloela family, we have talked through this before and I think it is one of those issues we will need to agree to disagree on. You would be aware that the judgement by the Full Court of the Federal Court was recently delivered. The department is now considering the implications of that decision, as you know.

Going back to the history of the Biloela family, I would just remind the chamber that both adults arrived in Australia as illegal maritime arrivals; they paid a people smuggler and arrived in Australia illegally by boat. After arriving in Australia illegally by boat, they met and they had two children. Senator McKim, I know you are aware of these facts, but I will just ensure that we are again placing them on the record. Since 2012, the family's claim to engage Australia's protection obligations has been comprehensively assessed, as you know, and the family has consistently been found not to be owed protection. Again, to the extent that I can, I will seek further information for you in relation to the issue that you raised at the beginning of your question and ensure that you are provided with that information.