Senate debates Questions on Notice

Asylum Seekers (Question No. 1533)


Michaelia Cash

Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration

asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 6 February 2012:

What is the whole of government budget, across all portfolios, for intercepting, transferring, housing, processing (including administrative and judicial review) and removing asylum seekers in the: (a) 2010-11; and (b) 2011-12 (to date), financial years.

Penny Wong

Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

Under the budget framework, funds are appropriated to separate portfolios, and there is no whole of government budget for asylum seekers. The estimates of appropriations for intercepting, transferring, housing, processing (including administrative and judicial review) and removing asylum seekers can be found in the following Portfolio Budget Statements: