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

) ( ): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Will the minister inform the chamber how many mothers and young women are currently on suicide watch in the Christmas Island detention camp? Will the minister confirm that one woman had thrown herself off a building earlier this week after previously attempting to hang herself?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With all of these situations it is vitally important to get all the factual information.

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

That's why I am asking you.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I would say is that on the information that I have in front of me there is no basis for the claims that up to 12 women have attempted suicide at Christmas Island detention facilities.

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

How many then?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you were genuine about this issue without wanting to play raw politics surely you would allow me to get at least more than one sentence out in an answer, I would have thought. A small number of minor self-harm incidents have recently occurred and those involved are receiving proper and appropriate medical and other support. It would not be appropriate to go into further detail about the incidents or the individual circumstances of these detainees.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that a shortage of female staff on Christmas Island has left these mothers currently on suicide watch being guarded by male officers? And what is the government doing to rectify the situation?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not sure that my brief has specific details about that but I am advised that women and children in immigration detention are provided with professional health care in line with Australian community standards. This care includes access to the appropriate support in relation to these matters. But, in relation to the support for women and infants, I cannot immediately pick that up in the brief that I have in front of me so I will take that on notice.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I appreciate the minister taking that question on notice. Could the minister respond to this: the government has referred to these women's babies as 'illegal arrivals'. Could the minister explain the justification for defining babies born in Australia in Australian hospitals as 'illegal arrivals'? I would have thought they had arrived in the same way as his children or my children.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can inform the senator that primary health care for women and infants on Christmas Island is provided by IHMS, with referral to the Christmas Island Hospital or hospitals on the Australian mainland for further specialist assessment or treatment where required. So I have been able to answer that.

In relation to the government's determination to stop the boats, I think we all know why: so we can have a genuine, orderly intake of refugees. Can I simply remind the honourable senator that it was under the Greens-Labor policy, which allowed the flood of boats and people to arrive in Australia again, that we had more children in detention than under the Howard government or at this very moment, with this new coalition government. So the legacy of children in detention is with Labor's and the Greens' legacy. (Time expired)