Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Senator, over the last four weeks, at least 147 detainees have been released into the Australian community, including paedophiles, murderers, rapists and a contract killer. The result is that, just over the last few days, we have now seen five detainees arrested by police, including a serial sex offender being charged with alleged indecent assault of a woman in South Australia and the ringleader of a child exploitation gang being arrested for allegedly contacting minors. Why is it that, because of your failures, Australians are less safe now under this Labor government?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. I again remind those opposite that the decision to release was a decision of the High Court imposed upon the government. As a consequence, the government has put in place a range of measures, including those which have now been passed by the parliament, which are clearly aimed at ensuring we do all we can to keep Australians safe. And I would think that Senator Cash would understand that the government is dealing with two High Court decisions which have struck down laws which were applicable under you. Certainly in relation to the citizenship cessation, in fact, Mr Dutton has presided over not one but two unconstitutional laws.

The facts are, as much as Senator Cash wishes to interject repeatedly, Australians are not kept safer by laws which fail, and your laws failed. That is the reality. It is the case that the government has put in place four layers of protection. They include preventive detention, community safety supervision orders, electronic monitoring devices and curfews, and stringent visa conditions. We will continue to do all we can.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You're up to No. 5!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll take that interjection. On the one hand— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, a first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In approximately three weeks, just before Christmas, Abdul Nacer Benbrika is due to be released. Revelations in this chamber last night revealed that the Attorney-General failed to apply to the court for a continuing detention order. It appears the only possible outcomes are that Australia's most notorious terrorist will be released with conditions or that he will simply be released into the Australian community. Why is it that, because of your failures, Australians are less safe now under this Labor government?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is remarkable, the way in which the opposition seem to forget that the laws that we have had to pass—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, you've asked your question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The situation in relation to citizenship cessation has become an issue because Peter Dutton put in place laws which failed. It's amazing, isn't it? Senator Cash thinks that repeated interjections can cover up the fact that this was Mr Dutton's mess. The reality is that the Leader of the Opposition and Senator Cash will never learn that you don't keep Australians safe with laws—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I have called order almost continuously. I would ask senators to listen in respectful silence. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The High Court made clear that Mr Dutton's laws failed, and the government has been working to fix up— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, a second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, Labor's national security chaos has brought new uncertainty and new safety risks to Australians. Will your government apologise to Australians for your catastrophic failure to keep them safe?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order across the chamber! I am not calling the minister until there is order.

Senator Brown, I have called you.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Everyone in this place wants Australians to be safe.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Cash, I've called you to order—

Senator Cash, you are not in a debate with me. I'm asking you to listen in respectful silence.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Everyone in this chamber wants Australians to be safe.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cash, I have called you to order. I had just finished calling you to order and asked the minister to continue her answer. I am requesting that you listen in respectful silence.

Senator Sterle, that applies to you, too.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Everyone in this place wants Australians to be safe. Everyone in this chamber wants Australians to live in safety. We understand that this is—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, order!

Order! Order!

Senator McGrath, I have called you three times.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very happy not to sit down if those opposite stop interjecting. But the reality is they don't want to hear the answer—

There you go again! You don't want the answer, do you? You really don't want the answer.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam President, I rise on a point of order on relevance with seven seconds to go. The question was: will the government apologise?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume—

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been nothing on that. Will the government apologise—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, I am not entering into a debate. I reminded senators yesterday and the day before that that, when you stand on a point of order, it's not an invitation to make a statement. The minister is being relevant.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those opposite always fail to remind Australians that Mr Dutton presided over— (Time expired)