My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Minister, Reza Barati, Sayed Ibrahim Hussein, Hamid Kehazaei, Omid Masoumali, Rakib, Kamil Hussain, Faysal Ishak Ahmed and Hamed Shamshiripour—these are eight asylum seekers who have died in Australia as a result of their mistreatment on Manus Island and Nauru. Does the government concede that, regardless of what policies were implemented in the past, their policy—the Liberal Party's policy—right now is responsible for the deaths of these innocent people and destroying the lives of many more?

If the minister won't acknowledge that then how else, Minister, do you explain the deaths of these innocent people?

I thank Senator Di Natale for his question. Again, I find it very disappointing that anyone would come into this place and use the death, in particular of these people, for merely political purposes and claim the moral high ground which, quite frankly, they do not have. Any death is, obviously, regretful. But as Senator Di Natale well knows, we would not be standing here in August 2017 and this question would not be being asked if it were not directly—

Pause the clock. Point of order, Senator Di Natale.

In my question, I referenced past policies and said, specifically, 'regardless of what was done in the past'. We're talking about the government's policy right now—the Liberal Party's policy right now. And that is what the question went to.

The minister still has a minute and 21 seconds left with which to answer the question. I remind the minister of the question.

The government concedes that it continues to clean up the incredible mess created by the former Labor government, hand in hand with decisions supported by the Australian Greens. The government concedes that it was elected in 2013 by the Australian people on a very, very clear policy to restore integrity to Australia's borders. The government concedes that it has done exactly that. The government concedes that it has been in excess of 1,000 days without a boat arrival. For the benefit of Senator Di Natale, the government concedes that since we cleaned up the mess created directly by the decisions of Senator Di Natale and the Australian Greens all of the children that Senator Di Natale was responsible for putting into detention have been released from detention by this government. The government concedes that 1,200 people were killed at sea by decisions made by Senator Di Natale. (Time expired)

Senator Di Natale, a supplementary question.

I won't dignify that diatribe with a response. Mr President, my supplementary question to the minister is this: in relation to the death yesterday of the man Australia imprisoned on Manus Island, Hamed Shamshiripour, how many requests did the government receive to medically evacuate Mr Shamshiripour before his death and why were those requests refused?

In relation to the premise of Senator Di Natale's question that this particular individual was imprisoned, I clearly refute that premise. In relation to the death that Senator Di Natale is referring to, obviously I regret to inform the Senate of the death. The incident is currently under investigation by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, and I understand the incident will be investigated by the Papua New Guinea coroner's office.

Senator Di Natale, a point of order.

President, this was a very narrow question and it related—

What's your point of order?

To relevance. It related specifically to the requests the government received from medical authorities, from doctors, wanting this man to be evacuated from Manus Island, and those requests being refused by your government, by the Liberal Party, by Minister Dutton. What were the grounds for those requests being refused?

In answering that question, the minister has indicated the matter is currently under investigation by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. In that answer, I interpret that the minister will give you as much detail as she can. I invite the minister to conclude her remarks. A further point of order, Senator Di Natale?

A further point of order: the Papua New Guinea Constabulary are not going to be determining the number of requests to the Australian government.

Order! You're debating the issue, Senator Di Natale. I can only entertain a point of order in relation to relevance, if you want to continue.

How many requests did the government receive? That's independent of any investigation.

This is now a matter for the minister, and the minister has heard your point of order. I will call the minister.

Had Senator Di Natale given me but an additional second, I would have gone on to say: given the investigations, I am sure that Senator Di Natale understands that it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comments at this stage. However, I can assure the Senate that health care is provided to all transferees on Manus Island.

Thank you, Minister. Senator Di Natale, a further supplementary question?

Given the images that were circulated last night showing Mr Shamshiripour appearing to suffer from fresh injuries that, again, appeared to be inflicted before his death, will the Australian government return his body to Australia for an autopsy or, at the very least, ensure an independent observer is present during the autopsy?

Again, given that the death is currently under investigation by the Papua New Guinea coroner's office, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment.