Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, representing the Minister for Immigration. Minister, I refer you to comments made by Minister Dutton on Sky News on 19 April, when he was asked what he knew about the Good Friday shootings at Australia's Manus Island detention centre. Minister Dutton responded by saying:

There was an alleged incident where three asylum seekers were alleged to be leading a local five-year-old boy back toward the facility. There was a lot of angst around that …

However, in regard to that event involving a child, senior Papua New Guinea Police inspector David Yapu said:

Nothing has been reported to police. There is no connection to the latest incident [the Good Friday shooting].

It is not related. There is no link at all.

Inspector Yapu confirmed that personally to me when I met him on Manus Island last week. Minister, who is telling the truth, Minister Dutton or the PNG police?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKim for the question. Senator McKim, I can advise as follows in relation to what I have been informed. You are correct. On 14 April 2017, Good Friday, there was an incident at the Manus Regional Processing Centre involving Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel. The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel are conducting concurrent investigations into the incident. As the investigations are ongoing, I am not in a position to comment more fulsomely on the issue, as you would be aware, lest the minister or I should prejudice the investigation, which I am sure you would not want. I do, however, want to confirm—

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

Order! Pause the clock. Senator McKim, a point of order.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my point of order goes to relevance. The question was in regard to the discrepancy between Minister Dutton's version of events and the statements on the public record from the PNG police and, specifically, who was being truthful.

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

The minister clearly articulated that she would not go into any further detail because of the sensitivity and the ongoing investigation. The minister has given her answer in that respect. Minister, do you wish to continue?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

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

Senator McKim, a supplementary question.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What a shame Minister Dutton did not show the same reticence when he was asked! My supplementary question to the minister is this: Minister, from where does the government get its information about these shootings? Why does the government's version of events, as articulated by Minister Dutton, blatantly contradict what the senior police officer on Manus Island said? Will you now release the CCTV footage that was taken at the centre?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

( Senator McKim, unlike you, I am not going to stand here and hypothesise in relation to what may or may not have occurred. I have confirmed with you that an incident occurred on 14 April. I have also confirmed that concurrent investigations are currently occurring. I have also stated on behalf of the minister that, as the investigations are ongoing, we will not be making any further comment on the issue more fulsomely as we do not want to prejudice the investigation—and I am quite sure you would not want us to, Senator McKim.

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

Senator McKim, a point of order.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, my point of order is relevance. I would ask you to remind the minister that I asked whether the government would release the CCTV footage.

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

Thank you. I think the minister has now heard you. Minister, have you finished your answer?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Senator McKim, a final supplementary question.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, given the Liberal Party's history of lying about people seeking asylum, including the children overboard affair, will you admit that Minister Dutton is again using misinformation to spread hatred and xenophobia in Australia and will you now admit that your government cannot keep detainees or staff at the Manus Island detention centre safe?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKim, through the chair, your feigned indignation in relation to caring for anybody who has sought to come to this country illegally by way of boat is, quite frankly, pathetic given the record that the Australian Greens, in combination with the Australian Labor Party, have in relation to this. I now have an opportunity to remind the Australian people exactly what your record is, which goes exactly to why your indignation is feigned.

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

Order! Pause the clock. Senator McKim, a point of order.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, once again, for the third time in the three questions that I have asked today, the point of order goes directly to relevance. I asked whether Minister Cash would admit that the government is again spreading misinformation, hatred and xenophobia and, specifically, whether the government believes that the detainees and the staff at the Manus Island detention centre—many of whom, I might add, are Australian citizens—are actually safe. She has not approached those questions.

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

I will remind the minister of the question.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I am a member of the Liberal Party, not the Australian Greens, the answer to your question is no. But let me tell you about the facts. You endorsed policies that saw in excess of 1,200 people die at sea. Unlike you, we do not want to be responsible for anybody getting on a boat and losing their life. We are completely committed to our strong border protection policies.

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

Senator Hinch, a point of order?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order, Mr President. I thought that in question time questions were asked and questions were answered. I am getting as much noise from this side as I am getting from here with the question, and it happens all the time.

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

I will remind senators, particularly the senator who asked the question, to listen to the answer. Senator Cash, you have three seconds. You have finished your answer?