Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
2:34 pm
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. Can the minister tell the Senate how much it is costing Australian taxpayers to keep the ‘floating solution’, the Oceanic Viking, in Indonesia?
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Firstly, let me say that the responsibility for the Oceanic Viking, its supply and its costs is obviously with the Minister for Home Affairs.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Oh dear, oh dear.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Senator, if you are not smart enough to ask the right minister, do not whinge to me. You want to interject—
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
I will try to be helpful but not if you are going to interject, Senator.
John Hogg President
Senator Evans, have you finished your answer? Answer the question. Continue your answer.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Can I indicate that, even though I am not the relevant minister, I will attempt to assist the senator. It is the case that the costs associated with the operation of the Oceanic Viking under the customs and border protection portfolio. As has been indicated, in this year’s budget we made provision for extra days for the Oceanic Viking to operate in our northern waters if required and that was part—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
John Hogg President
Order! The time for debating is after question time.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
I was trying to be helpful. Let me indicate that those costs will obviously be reflected in the accounting of the Customs and Border Protection Service when they are available. We will make them available as soon as possible.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that the cost to Australian taxpayers of keeping the ship in Indonesia with the 56 illegals still on board is in the region of $2,500 per person per day?
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
No, I cannot confirm that. As I indicated, I am not the responsible minister. Senator Abetz made the mistake of asking the wrong minister and therefore he will not get the sort of detail that he is after. But can I indicate to him that that is probably a lot cheaper than keeping them on Nauru.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia
Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—
John Hogg President
Order, Senator Evans, Senator Macdonald—it is disorderly. I am waiting to hear Senator Abetz’s question.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given that the Prime Minister’s personal staff were involved in the special deals in an attempt to remove the illegal entrants from the Oceanic Viking, what was the minister’s role? Did the minister seek the approval of the Prime Minister’s office to sign off on the deal?
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
The first questions were asked of the border protection minister. Mr President, I presume the senator is referring to me in the supplementary, but it has no bearing on the original question.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia
Don’t you represent the Prime Minister?
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Is the question of me, Senator, or the customs and border protection minister? I just want to be clear.
John Hogg President
Continue to answer the question as best you can, Senator Evans.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
All right. Mr President, the first point I would make is that this is not a supplementary. But the answer to the question is that the arrangements entered into for processing of the persons when they disembark from the Oceanic Viking were determined by the Border Protection Committee of cabinet, a working group which I chair. In terms of processing, the details were as a result of my department looking at what was possible and looking at the normal processes and relationships with regard to the UNHCR’s role. (Time expired)