Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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?

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

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—

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

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

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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.

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

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

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

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)

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

Senator Di Natale, a supplementary question.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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?

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

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.

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

Senator Di Natale, a point of order.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What's your point of order?

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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?

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

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?

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

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

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.

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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?

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

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.