Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question this afternoon is to the minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. On Sunday, the minister told the ABC's Insiders program:

The humanitarian program's credibility comes from the fact that it is non-discriminatory and that each application is assessed on its merits. As far as I'm aware, there are no plans to change that visa program.'

Does Minister Bishop's statement reflect government policy?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As Senator Pratt has indicated, the minister advised that all claims for humanitarian visa entry into Australia are assessed on their merits. The foreign minister was stating government policy.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt on a supplementary question.

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, last week said that white South African farmers deserve special attention, and that they 'need help from a civilised country like ours'. Why is the Minister for Home Affairs articulating a policy completely contradictory to that of the Minister for Foreign Affairs?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Home Affairs was not.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pratt, a final supplementary question.

Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Environment and Water (Senate)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Which is government policy—are they both government policy?—that of the Minister for Home Affairs or that of the Minister for Foreign Affairs?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the senator had bothered to read the whole transcript of the Minister for Home Affairs or that of the Minister for Foreign Affairs she would know that they were consistent and representative of government policy.