Contributions
733 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q How far is Indonesia from the north-western shore of Australia? George Brandis: It is a great distance. I cannot give you the exact figure, but it is certainly more than 1,000…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Fourth sitting)Q As you have indicated, the Bill seeks to punish people on how they arrive in the UK, by giving them less temporary protection. Are you aware of any other countries that do that…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Fourth sitting)Q 137 Welcome, Elizabeth and Rossella. I will ask you a few questions, primarily about the legality of the Bill in relation to international law. In your opinion, do various…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Fourth sitting)Q The vulnerable persons resettlement scheme closed. Do you think that the closure of schemes like that has an impact on the increased numbers of people seeking asylum in places…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q Do you have any figures on the cost of offshoring? George Brandis: I do not have those figures in front of me. Under the regional processing agreements that Australia entered…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q In relation to the offshoring in Papua New Guinea, is it correct to say that Papua New Guinea declared the transfers illegal, so offshoring had to stop because of the decision…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q Other aspects of the immigration policy before Operation Sovereign Borders were offshoring and detention accommodation. Do you recall when those were introduced? George Brandis:…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q But there was a class action brought by people from Manus Island in relation to the way they were treated. Do you recall the outcome of that? George Brandis: I am not in a…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Just to follow up about other countries that neighbour areas where there are war zones and conflicts, can you talk about an example of one of the countries that border Syria,…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Fourth sitting)Q Just to paraphrase, you think that the Bill will not achieve its objectives because it will mean that people stay here longer, and because it does not comply with international…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q But was that not part of the reason why Australia was reported to the International Criminal Court for processing in Nauru and New Guinea? George Brandis: I do not think that is…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q 108 Thank you, High Commissioner, and welcome to today’s session. I would like to ask some initial questions about the timeline of the borders policy in Australia, or what…23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Third sitting)Q You said that these boats were coming to the north-western part of Australia. Where were they coming from? George Brandis: Primarily the southern shores of Indonesia.23 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (First sitting)Q Moving on to clause 11, on asylum accommodation, I know in the past the Red Cross has been critical of the Government’s using Napier Barracks to house asylum seekers. What are…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (First sitting)Q You mentioned clause 10 in your answer. What other problems do you see with clause 10, which treats people differently depending on how they arrive? Jon Featonby: The starting…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Going back to small boats, clearly if we are working with the French authorities to disrupt the people behind smuggling, it does not seem to be going so well. How could we work…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Is that more investment in first responders and the referral to the NRM? Rob Jones: It is recognising victims, understanding what is in front of you and making sure that you are…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q Would that be because of threats back home, or something else? Rob Jones: A range of different scenarios. Many of these people are in debt bondage and there is leverage on their…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (Second sitting)Q You mentioned the juxtaposed controls from 2001. That was done in co-operation with France, but clearly things seem to be very different now. I just wondered what your take was…21 Sept 2021HANSARDNationality and Borders Bill (First sitting)Q As a follow-up, how do you think a reduction in those dangerous journeys would be better achieved? Jon Featonby: There is no simple answer to that; as the Home Secretary said on…21 Sept 2021