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

My question is to Senator Cash, representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. It's now just 57 short days until your 31 October deadline to close Australia's Manus Island detention centre. Is it still Minister Dutton's intention to abandon—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

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

Order on my right!

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

The problem here is that the minister can't hear my question because her colleagues have lost control of themselves.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim. Continue with your question.

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

Is it still Minister Dutton's intention to abandon the men you have imprisoned for over four years now into the PNG community?

Can you also confirm that the closure date of 31 October was not mutually agreed with the PNG government, which was categorically stated last week by PNG Attorney-General, Mr Davis Steven? Do you accept that Minister Dutton has no plan whatsoever, is simply making it up as he goes along and has completely lost control of his own cruel policy?

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

I thank Senator McKim for his question. In the first instance, I would reject 95 per cent of the allegations made in Senator McKim's question. In relation to the closure of the Manus Regional Processing Centre, with Australia's support, Papua New Guinea will close the Manus Regional Processing Centre by 31 October 2017. In relation to the management of services at the regional processing centre, this is a matter for the government of Papua New Guinea, as Senator McKim well knows. In answering this question I remind Senator McKim that, yet again, despite his false bravado, despite his rhetoric, he is responsible, along with the policies of the Australian Greens, when they supported the policies of the former Labor government, for why that Manus Island centre is there. The reason—

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

Senator McKim, on a point of order?

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

The point of order here is on relevance. My question was entirely, 100 per cent, future focused. It did not ask the minister to reflect on one single matter that happened in the past. Every aspect of my question was future focused. I would ask that you remind the minister that she's yet to respond to my question around whether the closure date was mutually agreed with the PNG government and whether Minister Dutton has lost control of his own cruel policy.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim. The minister rejected portions of the allegations made in your question, and the minister has answered some key elements of your question. I will agree she has not answered every element of your question, but the minister also has been allowed, as with all ministers, to enhance the answers providing they are directly relevant to the topic. The minister has attempted to and in this case has actually answered portions of your question.

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

In relation to the comments regarding Minister Dutton, I would say, as would those on this side of the chamber, that Minister Dutton, along with former Minister Morrison, has done an absolutely outstanding job in cleaning up the mess created, yet again, by Senator McKim along with those on the other side when they were last in government. Minister Dutton, just like Minister Morrison and those on this side of the chamber, puts national security as the No. 1 issue for the Commonwealth government. Senator McKim, unlike you, we know that a government that cannot control its borders, quite frankly, does not deserve to be in government.

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

Senator McKim, is there a supplementary question?

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

This question, like the first, has nothing whatsoever to do with national security. Minister, the Papua New Guinea Attorney-General, Mr Steven, said:

The PNG Government is not going to allow a situation where Australia has withdrawn and leaves behind all these international fugitives who they expect us to carry on our steam.

That's a direct quote from Mr Steven. How can you possibly proceed with abandoning these men, over 800 of them, into PNG without the PNG government's agreement? Will you now do the right thing and bring them here? (Time expired)

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

Again, Senator McKim, that is your version of history. This government and this minister remain committed to supporting Papua New Guinea to close the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre by 31 October 2017. In fact the minister himself was recently in Papua New Guinea with Prime Minister O'Neill and Papua New Guinea's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on Friday, 1 September 2017. Both sides acknowledged the requirement for continued close cooperation on implementation of the regional resettlement arrangement and discussed plans for the Manus Island RPC closure. I am very sorry to disappoint you with the answer.

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

Was there any extra financial consideration as a result of any discussions between the minister and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea? And, given that you are now returning people home to their countries of origin, what assurances can you give that people you have assisted to return home were of sound mind when they made the decision—given that you have tortured them and harmed them for four years?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That has to be withdrawn.

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

Order! Senator McKim, that is an allegation I think you need to withdraw—that last part of your question.

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

Sorry, President, I didn't hear what you just said.

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

Senator McKim, if I heard you correctly, you accused the minister of acts that are certainly very unparliamentary. I ask that you withdraw the last element of your question.

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

President, I seek your guidance here, because Amnesty International found that, in fact, the Australian government has tortured asylum seekers. That's what I am relying on.

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

Order! Senator McKim, you have made an accusation against a minister of the Crown, which is unparliamentary. It would assist if you would withdraw that portion of your question.

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

Because you have asked, President, I withdraw, but I substitute: 'alleged tortures'.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim.

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

Clearly that question was a stunt and nothing more. I'm not going to dignify it with an answer, other than to reiterate that the Australian government remains committed to working with the PNG government to close the Manus Island processing centre by 31 October 2017.