Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:00 pm
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
2:01 pm
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
You're up to No. 5!
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I'll take that interjection. On the one hand— (Time expired)
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:03 pm
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
It is remarkable, the way in which the opposition seem to forget that the laws that we have had to pass—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
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
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
The High Court made clear that Mr Dutton's laws failed, and the government has been working to fix up— (Time expired)
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2:04 pm
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?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
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
2:05 pm
Everyone in this place wants Australians to be safe.
Sue Lines President
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
Everyone in this chamber wants Australians to be safe.
Sue Lines President
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
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
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
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
Madam President, I rise on a point of order on relevance with seven seconds to go. The question was: will the government apologise?
Jane Hume Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service
There has been nothing on that. Will the government apologise—
Sue Lines President
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
Those opposite always fail to remind Australians that Mr Dutton presided over— (Time expired)