Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McKim, for the question. Last week I think we all saw that a number of very serious issues were raised concerning the administration and governance of regional processing contracts and payments under the former coalition government. These are concerning allegations, and Mr Dutton, as the former home affairs minister, has a responsibility to explain what happened on his watch as home affairs minister. When these revelations came out, the government sought and received an immediate assurance that contracting and payments were being made according to law under this government. But we do need to get to the bottom of what has happened with taxpayers' money. As soon as these matters were raised, the government took action to be assured that governance arrangements were appropriate and called for evidence to be shared with the appropriate authorities.

Senator McKim, you may not have been aware of this, but just before question time today the Minister for Home Affairs announced that the government will appoint Mr Dennis Richardson, AC, a former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Director-General of ASIO, to conduct a review of integrity concerns and governance arrangements for the management of regional processing administration by the Department of Home Affairs. These issues do merit detailed and thorough examination, and the review will consider them in the wider context of serious issues that have emerged over many years. It will not canvass the policy of regional processing itself. The review will cover any integrity concerns about contracting arrangements regarding regional processing, whether public or otherwise, including the allegations and concerns raised by 60 Minutes and the Nine papers; the department's governance arrangements, oversight processes and systems for managing offshore processing, current and historic, including in relation to the engagement of subcontractors by head contractors; and any other related concerns regarding arrangements for regional processing administration.