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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. My question is in relation to reports that up to 8,000 Rohingya and Bangladeshi asylum seekers are adrift in the South-East Asian seas, in boats that have been abandoned by smugglers after being turned back by Indonesian and Malaysian authorities. It has been reported that many of them are starving and sick and without provisions. The UNHCR and the IOM have called for an international—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right.

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

search and rescue mission to save these people. Can the minister inform the Senate on the situation with these asylum seekers and the unfolding human tragedy?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, Senator Hanson-Young, yes I can, but can I say at the start that the problem that you have identified, and this was a very, very serious problem, is a problem that Australia no longer has. It is a problem that Australia no longer has—no thanks to you, or to the Labor Party, by the way. It is a problem that was solved by the Abbott government, in the teeth of your opposition and in the teeth of the opposition of the Australian Labor Party. Let me remind you, Senator Hanson-Young, that, in the six years of the previous government, policy supported by you saw more than 50,000 illegal entrants attempt to arrive in Australia on leaky boats, saw more than 800 leaky boats seek to make the dangerous journey across the Timor Sea, and saw more than 1,200 deaths. That is a humanitarian problem—a terrible humanitarian problem—that Australia had, and was shamed by, but no longer has because of the policies of this government.

Turning directly to what is happening on the Andaman Sea, in relation to the Rohingya and Bangladeshis stranded there on boats: this is a regional issue demanding a regional response. The foreign minister has had talks with regional governments about the need to find a solution to managing the challenge of large-scale movement of people from Myanmar, and the foreign minister raised the matter in Thailand last week. The Abbott government welcomes the Thai government's plan to hold a regional officials meeting to address the situation. Australia will attend that officials-level meeting.

I should inform you, Senator, that Australia has provided a total of $10.7 million for urgent humanitarian assistance for the people in the Rakhine State in Myanmar, including many Rohingya. Peace and security are essential for the country to achieve long-term stability and economic growth, and Australia, through its aid program, is contributing to that.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the Attorney-General, representing the foreign minister, please inform the chamber as to whether the government has received any requests for assistance from Indonesia, Malaysia, the UNHCR or the IOM in relation to this specific tragedy?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I can tell you is what we have done in responding to the specific tragedy, and that is, as I said in answer to your primary question, the provision of some $10.7 million of urgent humanitarian aid, and, as well, our attendance at the regional summit. I am advised that Australia has not been approached directly for assistance of the kind that you mentioned.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the government in the process of providing any assistance to the search and rescue mission, and, if not, why not?

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The search and rescue mission is being undertaken on the Andaman Sea. The assistance that Australia is providing is financial assistance in the form of the $10.7 million package I described to you. The Indonesian authorities and the Malaysian authorities are dealing with the search and rescue aspects of this tragedy, but, of course, Australia is engaged with the issue. We are keeping the matter under review with an alert eye to further opportunities to be of assistance.