Parliament

Senator Hanson-Young (South Australia): I move:

That the Senate-   

(a) condemns the Gillard Government's deal with Malaysia that would see 800 asylum seekers intercepted in Australian waters and sent to Malaysia; and

(b) calls on the Government to immediately abandon this proposal.

 Question agreed to.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (14:30): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Senator Carr. The Malaysian High Commissioner today declared that Australia cannot simply dictate which people will be sent to Malaysia under the Gillard government's Malaysian solution. Will the Malaysian government officials come to Australia to select which asylum seekers they will take or will it simply be conducted through paperwork? How will the Malaysian government decide who is sent to their country?

Outcome 4:

Senator HANSON-YOUNG-I gave some notice before, when we were on outcome 2, around the question of the numbers of days, months or years that people had been held in detention. Do you have those details?

Ms Wilson-Do you want me to do it by percentage or by number?

Senator HANSON-YOUNG-Numbers, please.

Outcome 2:

Senator HANSON-YOUNG-My first question is to seek an update to a question that I ask in this forum every estimates-that is, what is the number of people who currently either are in detention or have applications for protection who have already been assessed by the UNHCR in some type of offshore or third country facility?

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (2.36 pm)—My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration. When was the government first made aware of concerns regarding the impact of overcrowding and a lack of resources in the Christmas Island detention facility?

Senator CARR—I understand there was an earlier report to the government, and I am trying to find the date that was provided. I will come back to you on the specific date on which that was provided.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia)

(3.33 pm)—I move: That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) women make up only 25 per cent of board appointments in Australia, and

(ii) of that figure, only 10 per cent of the Australian Stock Exchange 200 companies have female directors, and only 8 per cent have female executives;

(b) recognises that:

(i) women in the workforce face many issues, including pay equity, the impact of unpaid work and family responsibilities on their careers and the disparity in retirement savings, and

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia)

Second Reading speech of Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia)

(11.10 am)—I rise to speak to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Bill and associated bills. I am happy to have heard both sides of the argument before putting forward the Greens position.

Second Reading speech of Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia)

(9.50 am)—I rise today to speak on the Schools Assistance Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2011 and highlight first up that the Greens will not be supporting this piece of legislation. This bill provides for the existing federal funding system for non-government schools to be extended for a further year until the end of 2013.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (2.22 pm)—My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney- General, Senator Ludwig.

Last week the Department of Immigration and Citizenship during the Senate estimates hearing confirmed that there are 900 asylum seekers who have been assessed as genuine refugees by the immigration department, yet they are still awaiting their ASIO security clearances. This has been an increase of 570 since October last year. What action is the Attorney-General taking to address these delays?