Parliament

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (4.26 pm) - I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 830 standing in my name. Leave granted.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG - I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate -

(a) notes:

(i) the recent survey conducted by the Australian Red Cross on community attitudes towards asylum-seekers and refugees, and

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (9.45 am)-I move:

That the Senate - (a) recognises that:

(i) 20 June 2010 marks World Refugee Day 2010,

(ii) the global theme for 2010 is ‘Home', in recognition of the plight of more than 40 million uprooted people around the world, and

(iii) as a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Geneva Convention Relating to the Status on Refugees, Australia is obliged to protect those seeking asylum from persecution;

(b) notes, with concern:

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (6.21 pm) - I rise to add my contribution to the debate the government's Paid Parental Leave Bill 2010 and Paid Parental Leave (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010.

This is a historic day in this chamber: all three of the major players in this place are committed to some form of paid parental leave and are also committed to seeing that some scheme is up and running by the end of this year.

Asylum Seekers
Senator HANSON-YOUNG (2.34 pm) - My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Is the minister aware of reports that aired on last night's Lateline program referring to electronic weapons being used on asylum seekers detained in Australian funded Tanjung Pinang detention centre in Indonesia?

If so, has the government made representations to the Indonesian government with regard to this?

Senator CHRIS EVANS - I thank the senator for her question. Actually, I did see Lateline last night after arriving in Canberra.

Senator Hanson-Young -I am not sure if I have got every body that is needed at the table, but let me know. My question relates to legal advice that was either sought, or perhaps not sought, in relation to the government's decision in early April to suspend asylum seeker applications from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. My question is: was legal advice sought?

CHAIR -We have an arrangement that we will go to Senator Hanson-Young.

Senator HUMPHRIES -Understood.

CHAIR -We will recommence with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Senator Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson Young -Did you know at this stage that your application had been successful?

Mr Mayne -I am not aware of many schools whose applications were not successful.

Senator Hanson Young -Let me know if you have already answered any of the questions I ask. I apologise: I am jumping between two committees today. I have gone from paid parental leave to Building the Education Revolution. Usually you would assume that they should seamlessly mould into each other!

Senator Hanson Young -Senator Marshall asked about whether that would be one of the types of cases that would be on your list, but my question goes a little further than that. This question is for the department.