Sean Bell (NSW, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Watt. The government's own Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade tells Australians not to travel to numerous countries because of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, civil unrest and institutional collapse. One Nation says if those countries are too dangerous for Australians to visit, they are too dangerous to accept ordinary migration from on a business-as-usual basis. Why does Labor continue to accept migration from countries that you tell Australians are too dangerous to visit.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bell. I actually didn't know that, until Senator Paterson just interjected, but I understand what you're saying is that Ukraine is a 'Do not travel' country at the moment. So I presume that your policy would apply to Ukrainians seeking to move here, or is it only from certain parts of the world? Is it only certain migrants from certain countries that are 'Do not travel' that are banned from coming to Australia? I think we know what is going on here. One Nation is seeking to copy policies from certain other parts of the world and bring them into Australia. We know that those sorts of policies have been put forward by certain other governments in other parts of the world. Sadly, we often find that the Liberal and National parties then follow One Nation when they copy policies from other parts of the world. So I'll be interested to know how many days it is before the Liberal Party brings in this policy as part of their policy platform, as well.

This government always bases our policies on the advice of security agencies. There is extremely strong vetting that goes on around anyone who seeks to migrate from Australia, whether they be a potentially dangerous individual from the countries that you're referring to or indeed potentially dangerous individuals who are seeking to come to Australia from other countries. I'm not sure why it is that One Nation doesn't have a problem with dangerous individuals seeking to come to Australia. Would One Nation stop Tommy Robinson from migrating to Australia, a serial criminal who sometimes associates with members of the One Nation party?

Our policy is not racially discriminatory. It's about protecting Australians and encouraging the migrants who make a big difference to Australia. Your policy is simply copying policies from other parts of the world.

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

Senator Bell, first supplementary?

Sean Bell (NSW, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia's terrorism threat level remains 'probable', and One Nation has called for migration from 'Do not travel' countries to be stopped unless security agencies—your security agencies—can give Australians an absolute assurance of the safety of Australians. Why is Labor willing to warn Australians that countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are unsafe to enter while still accepting migration from those same places without adopting One Nation's security test?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure whether the One Nation party has actually ever sought to be briefed on these issues by our security agencies. I'm sure the minister would be prepared to offer that kind of briefing to One Nation if it chose to seek one. Again, I make the point that One Nation likes to look tough on these issues by talking about these sorts of policies but then is selective about which countries it applies it to. I'd be interested to know why One Nation wants to ban migration from certain 'Do not travel' countries but not others. Why is that? It's because One Nation are simply trying to base their migration policies on dividing Australians rather than bringing them together. That's something that this government will never seek to do.

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

Senator Bell, second supplementary?

Sean Bell (NSW, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Burke accepted country-specific visa restrictions when Labor suspended most subclass 600 visitor visas linked to Iranian passports on migration integrity grounds. If Labor can restrict visas from one country when it suits its political argument, why won't it back One Nation's call to restrict ordinary migration on national security grounds from every country DFAT says Australians shouldn't travel to?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

My recollection, Senator Bell, is that the reason the government introduced the policy that it did regarding Iran was that it was an immediate response to the events that we were seeing in Iran at that point in time. It wasn't a blanket ban in the way that you are seeking to impose for some 'Do not travel' countries but not others.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Made an exception for Ukraine anyway!

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

Order!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, I would encourage you to think about how following One Nation has gone for your party, because you more than anyone in the National Party has enabled One Nation, and that has resulted in the National Party being almost eliminated from the political landscape. So, Senator Canavan, I'd think twice about backing in One Nation. It hasn't really gone very well for you.

Senator Bell, one thing I can assure you of is that this Labor government will never take policy advice from the One Nation party. We won't be taking it on this issue and we certainly won't be taking it on things like your desire to abolish compulsory superannuation, cut wages and cut paid parental leave and all of the other cost-of-living relief we're providing. (Time expired)

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

I advise the chamber that Senator Babet has passed his question to Senator Thorpe.