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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs. Minister, I draw your attention to the humanitarian calamity your government has created on Nauru, where children have been continually abused and are suffering ongoing trauma. I remind you, Minister, that some of these kids have spent five years in detention, and about 40 of them were born into detention and have never known freedom. In the last five years we've seen physical abuse, sexual abuse of children, suicides, attempted suicides, widespread self-harm, children lapsing into catatonic states, and the destruction of people's hopes for the future. Last week Medecins Sans Frontieres was kicked off the island, and there is a complete lack of appropriate medical care for people, including children in desperate need. Minister, when will you get the kids off Nauru and bring them here so that they can get the medical treatment they so desperately need?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McKim, for that question. Unfortunately, I think that you and I and those of us on this side of the chamber are just going to have to agree to disagree. Senator McKim, you and your party, the Australian Greens, siding with the then Labor government, are responsible for absolutely everything you just raised in your question.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is offensive.

Senator Keneally interjecting—

Senator McKim interjecting—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a fact that when we left office there was a handful of people in detention. But there is a very clear policy choice now as we move towards the next election. Do you want a government that will always put the sovereignty of its borders first, or do you want the absolute chaos that ensued when the Australian Greens supported the policies of the former Australian Labor government? And Senator McKim, let me just remind you what occurred: 50,000 people arrived here on in excess of 800 boats. But when you talk about children in detention, it is about time you stood up and at least prefaced the question that you are going to ask with, 'I accept responsibility on behalf of the Australian Greens for policies that put in excess of 8,000 children into detention.' It is those of us on this side of the chamber who have ensured—Senator McKim, you may have forgotten this—the diligent, hard work of putting in place policies that work and that reduced the number of children held in detention in April 2016 to zero.

The PRESIDENT: Senator McKim, a supplementary question.

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

Minister, can you confirm that there is currently only one mental health nurse on Nauru, who is not employed to provide services to refugees, and that the only psychiatrist employed by the Nauruan hospital does not speak English and does not have access to a translator to speak to refugee patients? Are you seriously maintaining your claim that this constitutes an adequate response to the mental health epidemic amongst refugees on Nauru that you've created? (Time expired)

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

Order, Senator McKim! You've got 30 seconds to ask a supplementary.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator McKim, this question has been asked on so many occasions and the answer does not change: a range of care, welfare and support arrangements are in place in offshore processing centres to provide for the needs of children, young people and anybody else who is housed in these places. The Australian government has provided, as you know, Senator McKim, and continues to provide, appropriate health care and mental health support—

Scott Ryan (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

Yes, President. My point of order goes to direct relevance. The question is not generic or generalist in any way. It makes two assertions and asks the minister to respond to those, which, to date, halfway through her answer, she's yet to do. I ask that you remind the minister of the question and ask her to respond to the specifics contained in the question.

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

I think the minister is being directly relevant to part of the question asked. Specific questions that are narrow in scope make it easier to hold a minister directly relevant to a question. For a longer question, a minister can respond to part of it.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I was saying, in relation to mental health support, you would be aware again, Senator McKim, that IHMS has longstanding and robust processes in place to provide primary and mental health care to individuals. You would also know that the Australian government has provided over $1 billion for infrastructure projects in both PNG and Nauru, including a new medical centre, staff accommodation— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (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

Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia director Paul McPhun says that it is the Australian government's policy of indefinite offshore detention that has 'destroyed their resilience, shattered all hope and ultimately impacted their mental health'. The AMA has repeatedly called on the government to urgently transfer refugee families off Nauru, describing the situation as a 'humanitarian emergency'. Minister, why are you ignoring experts and continuing to deliberately engage in child abuse on Nauru? (Time expired)

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

Order, Senator McKim! Sit down! You were given 30 seconds to ask a supplementary question. I'm holding questioners and ministers strictly to the time limits.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I completely refute the statements that have been made, and I don't agree with these statements that have been made.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order!

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a fact that we provide health care on both Nauru and Manus Island. As I was saying, the Australian government has invested in excess of $1 billion of taxpayers' money for infrastructure projects in both Nauru and PNG. What does this actually include? It includes a new medical centre; it includes staff accommodation; it includes a logistics hub in PNG; and it also includes a hospital redevelopment and community resource centre in Nauru. But again we must not forget, Senator McKim, that the only reason anyone is on Manus or Nauru is the policies that you supported and that were put in place.

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

Senator Brown. Sorry, a point of order, Senator Bernardi?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd ask you to consider whether the Greens yelling at Senator Cash, 'You are abusing children; you are a child abuser,' is parliamentary, because I don't think it is.

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

I did not hear such comments. If such comments were made—

Honourable senators interjecting—

I have called Senator Brown. We're going to this question regardless of how long this takes. Senator Hinch, on the point of order?

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

Those comments were made.

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

If those comments were made, I would suggest, for the sake of the operation of the chamber, they should be withdrawn. They were directed at a minister personally rather than an observation on policy, if those were the exact words. I did not hear them.

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

What I am happy to clarify for you—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! I'll hear Senator McKim. We'll be going to Senator Brown after this—

An honourable senator interjecting—

I've already called Senator Brown for her question, so I consider the question to have commenced. Senator McKim.

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

Thank you, Mr President. If I did describe the minister as a child abuser, I withdraw it. There is plenty of evidence that the government is abusing children on Nauru.

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

Senator McKim, can I ask you to withdraw the personal comments. There is a time to make party-political debate afterwards. Can I ask you to withdraw the personal comments. I need that to be unconditional rather than 'if'.

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

It is not just the minister, it is the whole government, Mr President. I withdraw it.

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

Thank you, Senator McKim. Senator Brown.