My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. The Prime Minister today described the immigration minister as 'thoughtful and compassionate'. Does the minister believe that it is thoughtful and compassionate to claim that the former Liberal Party Prime Minister, the late Malcolm Fraser, made mistakes in welcoming Lebanese Muslims into Australia in the 1970s because a small number of their children or grandchildren may have committed a crime? Minister, how is it thoughtful or compassionate to describe generations of hardworking immigrants, who have made an enormous contribution to this multicultural nation of ours, as a 'mistake'?

Senator Di Natale, I entirely agree with the description of Peter Dutton, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, as thoughtful and compassionate. I entirely agree, having known Peter Dutton as I have for some 17 years. A more thoughtful and compassionate minister you will not find on either side of this chamber.

And the evidence of the thoughtfulness and compassion of Peter Dutton is to be seen in particular in the fact—through you, Mr President—Senator Di Natale, that because of Peter Dutton there are no children in detention any longer, whereas when the coalition came into office some three years and two months ago there were almost 2,000. Because of Peter Dutton and the policies that he is superintending—

Pause the clock. Senator Di Natale, a point of order?

Yes, a point of order on relevance. I asked specifically: how is it thoughtful or compassionate to describe generations of hardworking Lebanese immigrants as a 'mistake'?

That was the second part of your question. The first part was: 'Does the minister believe that Minister Dutton was thoughtful and compassionate?' And the minister directly answered that question.

So, I do think that it is compassionate and thoughtful to superintend a policy which has saved hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives at sea, because, as we know, under the previous government's immigration policy at least 1,200 people—men, women, children and infants—drowned in the ocean, drowned at sea. And those are only the ones we know about; there are numberless others that we will never know of who drowned at sea. Because of policies implemented by Mr Scott Morrison and Mr Peter Dutton—

Pause the clock. Senator Di Natale, a point of order?

Yes, on relevance. The minister has spent the entire duration of his answer ignoring the second part of my question: how is it thoughtful or compassionate to describe generations of hardworking Lebanese immigrants as a 'mistake'?

As is the practice with all ministers when answering questions, provided that they are relevant to a portion or all of the question—and in this case the minister is relevant to a portion of the question—I cannot direct the minister as to which part of your question he addresses. The minister is relevant.

So, I think it is compassionate to have saved all of those lives. I think it is compassionate that Mr Dutton has most recently negotiated an agreement with the United States of America so that people who were placed in offshore detention by the previous government can be resettled in the United States of America. I think that is thoughtful and compassionate too. (Time expired)

Senator Di Natale, a supplementary question?

Minister, there was a time when the Prime Minister understood the difference between 'thoughtful and compassionate' and racism. Does the Prime Minister now also believe that it is thoughtful and compassionate for the immigration minister to describe refugees as 'illiterate' and 'innumerate', to describe them as 'illegals' who will 'take Australian jobs or languish on dole queues'?

Well, I will tell you what the Prime Minister believes—as every man and woman of this government also believes—and that is in a successful, multicultural Australia—

Senator Hanson-Young interjecting—

which, as we know from our own historical experience and from the historical experience of other nations as well, depends on public confidence that we are in control of our own borders so that, as John Howard once famously said, 'We decide who comes into this country and the circumstances in which they come.'

Pause the clock. A point of order, Senator Back?

Yes, a point of order on reflection, Mr President. Senator Hanson-Young cannot make statements like 'Mr Dutton is a racist and a bigot' without it being challenged. I ask you to call her to withdraw those statements. It is the second time during Senator Di Natale's questions that she has made those statements. They are unacceptable.

I did not hear the comments that you have asserted were made by Senator Hanson-Young. Senator Hanson-Young, if you made comments that were unparliamentary I would ask that you would withdraw those.

Mr President, I stand by it. I think Peter Dutton is a racist bigot.

Well, that is unparliamentary language directed at a member of the other house. I ask that you withdraw that, please, Senator Hanson-Young.

It is my opinion, Mr President—

I would ask you to withdraw it.

I will withdraw it for the sake of the chamber, but honestly—

Thank you. Do not repeat it.

So, Mr Dutton, and Mr Morrison before him, has presided over a suite of policies that not only have produced the outstanding humanitarian outcomes of—

Pause the clock. Senator Di Natale?

A point of order on relevance: the question was very, very narrow. How is it thoughtful or compassionate to describe refugees as illiterate and innumerate, to describe them as illegals who will 'take Australian jobs or languish on dole queues'? It is a very narrow question.

I remind the Attorney-General of the question.

Senator Di Natale, the point I am making to you is that we believe, Mr Dutton believes, in a successful and prosperous multicultural Australia, but there are certain requirements and conditions to enable that society to prosper— (Time expired)

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the government so clearly lacking an agenda and is this Prime Minister so desperate that he needs to take a leaf out of the handbook of Donald Trump, and indeed the One Nation Party, by openly adopting their harmful, divisive, racist rhetoric that marginalises millions of Australians?

Senator Di Natale, I think it is very unfortunate that you would continue in your denunciation of the President elect of the United States of America, with whose administration the Australian government will work and needs to work for years to come. What we in this government believe in, as I was trying to point out to you before, is a successful, cohesive multicultural society, and that depends upon public confidence in our immigration program, and, in particular, public confidence that it is the government, not the people smugglers, who decide who gets to come to Australia to settle. We run one of the most compassionate and generous refugee and resettlement programs in the world. We run, arguably, the most successful resettlement services in the world, and Mr Peter Dutton presides over the success of those programs— (Time expired)