John Madigan (Victoria, Democratic Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' position is that Australia should provide asylum seekers who enter Australia by whatever means with a full and efficient refugee status determination process in Australia, and

(ii) it would be significantly more cost effective to process asylum seekers onshore as opposed to off shore;

(b) recognises that Australia:

(i) only has limited influence in ending the circumstances forcing people to flee their homeland and seek asylum,

(ii) must increase efforts overseas to do all it can to foster peace and stability in areas of conflict around the world, and

(iii) must also focus on what it can do to help the plight of asylum seekers in a balanced, dignified, safe and compassionate way; and

(c) calls on the Government to:

(i) strengthen relations and provide further assistance to Indonesia to stop people attempting the treacherous journey from Indonesia to Australia by boat,

(ii) increase our annual asylum seeker and refugee intake from Indonesia, and

(iii) process all asylum seekers onshore, at least in recognition of it being cheaper.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.'

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion. Australia runs one of the most generous resettlement programs in the world. The sad truth is that, in any one year, less than one per cent of the world's 10.5 million refugees will be resettled. Under the former government more than 14,500 people were denied a place under our offshore humanitarian program because those places had already been taken by those who arrived illegally by boat. Under the coalition people-smugglers and potential illegal immigrants face efforts by both the Australian and Indonesian governments to prevent people from transiting through Indonesia to get to Australia illegally by boat. Recent UNHCR figures show that the number of persons newly presenting for registration in Jakarta fell from 1,608 in September 2013 to 296 in December 2013. The government stands resolute in its commitment to offshore processing. People who arrive illegally by boat will continue to be transferred to Manus Island and Nauru and be processed offshore. There are no exceptions. (Time expired)

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I would like to put on the record that the Greens will be supporting this motion and commend Senator Madigan for putting it forward.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hanson-Young, you should have sought leave to make a statement but you have made your statement.

Question negatived.