Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
2:15 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Yesterday, the government announced an emergency intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees. I congratulate the government for listening to the Australian community on that one. I am told that there is a mother in Syria who has not been able to leave her home for the last year or let her daughters out of the house because she lives in an ISIS controlled village and fears what the militants might do if they leave. Are these the types of families that the government is hoping to help by bringing them to Australia so they can be safe?
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
2:16 pm
The Australian government is determined to do whatever it can in the Syrian and Iraqi situation to have a balanced approach of military intervention to try to get rid of this death cult. It is nice to hear for once the Australian Greens acknowledging that ISIS is a death cult—I hope at least that that was acknowledged or implicit in the question. What we will do is work with the United Nations to determine which 12,000 people are most in need for resettlement.
Unfortunately, the circumstances of that particular mother in Syria are as heart rending as literally thousands of other individual cases in Syria and in camps in Jordan and in Turkey. And there are also those in Lebanon who are effectively in camps albeit not formally so. I say to the Australian Greens that this is an issue on which this government did not just run around and pluck a figure out of the air as some others have done. We sent Mr Dutton to Europe to seek information from the UNHCR and try to determine the best way to help. We have now come up with a well-rounded policy which I think most people will consider to be compassionate. As I said the other day, the genuine compassion includes kindness plus judgement. In this case we have tried to do the very best—which is the way Australia has dealt with these matters over many decades. (Time expired)
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
2:18 pm
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. This family's case is tragic and they desperately need the Australian government's help. This woman's husband fled Syria trying to find refuge for his wife and his daughters. He came to Australia two years ago. He has been locked up in an Australian immigration detention centre and his family are not allowed to join him. Will you bring his family to Australia?
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
2:19 pm
(—) (): It has been the sorry experience of not only myself but also many senators in this place to be confronted with a situation put to us by Senator Hanson-Young which when submitted to closer examination does not necessarily match-up with what she has said. Therefore I am not willing to accept what she has said on this occasion at face value. It is one of these unfortunate circumstances for the senator yet again. Irrespective of how well motivated she actually might be, the fact that she engages in such behaviour on a serial basis means that she has lost her own credibility in relation to matters of this nature. We as a government will not be engaged on these individual matters. Suffice it to say that the stop the boats policy has saved drownings at sea and has allowed us to take in an orderly refugee intake. (Time expired)
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
2:20 pm
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I find it disgusting that we have just had the Leader of the Government in this place play politics with the lives of this family rather than listening to their plight and the need for compassion that this Australian community has asked for.
Stephen Parry President
Senator Hanson-Young, resume your seat. Senator Macdonald on a point of order.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party
Mr President, this is question time not time for senators to make statements when the TV is recording the issue. This particular session of the day is for senators to ask questions of ministers and get answers. Senator Hanson-Young so far has spent most of her time and all she has done is make a political statement. I ask you to insist that she ask a question or sit down.
Stephen Parry President
In relation to the point of order, generally senators are entitled to have a preamble to their question, to set-up the question and to give some background information for the question. However, I do acknowledge that in this case, Senator Hanson-Young, you may have deviated from setting up that question. So I would ask you to come to your question.
Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens
2:21 pm
Could Senator Abetz explain to us why Syrian families that have been torn apart by the conflict being punished for trying to reach Australia for protection?
Senator Bernardi interjecting—
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
Mr President, I ask you to get Senator Bernardi to reflect on his comments and perhaps withdraw his implication that the Greens support ISIS.
Cory Bernardi SA, Liberal Party
Mr President, put simply, Senator Di Natale does not support a campaign against ISIS in Syria.
Stephen Parry President
I do not want a debate, Senator Bernardi. Senator Bernardi, if you said something that you feel as though you should withdraw, I would appreciate your withdrawal.
Stephen Parry President
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, you have asked him to withdraw.
Stephen Parry President
I did not hear anything that was said, Senator Wong.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
I heard very clearly. He said, 'You support ISIS. Why do you support ISIS?' He ought withdraw that.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Order! One at a time. Senator Wong has the call. There will be silence.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, people in this place will have differences of views on national security. I do not share the views of the Greens on national security, but that accusation ought not be allowed to stand in this place.
Cory Bernardi SA, Liberal Party
Mr President, I will make it easy for you, I will withdraw.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you, Senator Bernardi. Senator Di Natale, a second point of order.
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
A second point of order, Mr President.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Order! Senator Di Natale, is this a fresh point of order because I have ruled on the previous one?
Richard Di Natale Victoria, Australian Greens
I would also ask Senator Canavan to withdraw his assertion that the Greens also support ISIS.
Matthew Canavan Queensland, Liberal National Party
I do not believe I have said anything unparliamentary and I have nothing to withdraw.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you, Senator Canavan. Senator Macdonald on a point of order.
Ian Macdonald Queensland, Liberal Party
Mr President, I have a point of order too. The question suggested, or in fact said, that Senator Abetz personally punished some immigrant groups. I ask that the person who asked the question withdraw that part of the question and that accusation against Senator Abetz, which is clearly wrong.
Stephen Parry President
In relation to these points of order, Senator Bernardi had the good grace to withdraw. I will go back and reflect on whether that is unparliamentary. I think we are now getting to the stage where we are starting to rule out everything. I will not ask Senator Hanson-Young to withdraw. I invite the minister to answer the question. Minister.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
2:24 pm
Mr President, can I thank the honourable senator for her character assessment. It is something that she is well known for in handing out character assessments to everybody but herself. In relation to the heinous suggestion that I and/or the government are seeking to punish people, can I say that we absolutely repudiate that. It was as a result of Australian Labor-Green policies that we saw 1,200 people drown at sea. That is disgusting. That is horrific. That is what we on this side were able to stop. We are pleased and thankful that we were able to achieve that.
Stephen Parry President
Order! Minister. Pause the clock. Senator Canavan on a point of order.
Matthew Canavan Queensland, Liberal National Party
I rise on a point of order, Mr President. Senator Whish-Wilson swore and I would ask him to withdraw that comment.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Stephen Parry President
Order! On both sides. In relation to these points of order there is another opportunity, if you feel as though you have been misrepresented or if you feel as though matters have not been said to your satisfaction, to raise them elsewhere.
Senator Wong interjecting—
Honourable senators interjecting—
Order, Senator Wong! Order! On both sides. Points of order of this nature are not necessarily relevant to question time. Points of order should be about the actual conduct of question time. Could I ask all senators to respect each other in this place and to not use labels, names or innuendos. It would help everyone, and it is probably befitting of the position of being a senator. Senator Whish-Wilson, in the same spirit that I asked Senator Bernardi, if you feel as though you have said anything that is unparliamentary, I would ask you to withdraw. Order! Senator Heffernan, I am dealing with another matter at the moment.
Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania, Australian Greens
I withdraw any profanity I may have said, Mr President.
Stephen Parry President
Thank you, Senator Whish-Wilson. Senator Heffernan on a point of order.
Stephen Parry President
Let us now come back to the serious nature of question time. I call the minister. Minister.
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment
Mr President, not knowing the full details of the situation of which the honourable senator speaks, let me just speculate that, if a person is in Nauru, chances are they engaged a criminal to advance their cause and we do not support— (Time expired)