Mr MARTIN FERGUSON (12:38 PM) —I specifically want to go to a couple of issues concerning illegal migrants. The first issue goes to the recent break-outs of illegal migrants from a number of detention centres. I seek information from the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs as to whether there was any firm evidence of a coordinated process of breaking out across those detention centres. Secondly, is there any evidence that those who may be suspected of being involved in arranging some of these illegal arrivals to Australia, and/or alternatively any of the legal firms representing these people, may have in any way been involved in coordinating or have had prior knowledge of the break-outs?

I also go to questions of illegal entry into Australia through coastal shipping and the contrast between the regulations and penalties that apply with respect to coastal shipping as against airline arrivals. Going to the revenue to the department from airlines, I understand the department collected well over $9 million from the airlines in the last financial year and that this money assists in recouping costs associated with illegal entries through airports.

Immigration approvals in the form of temporary visas are granted to a ship's captain on a bulk basis—that is, when a ship is to be on the Australian coast, immigration approvals are given over the telephone for the number of crew advised by the captain. Is it true that there is no method of verifying the suggested number advised by the captain? I therefore believe that, if that is the case, the shipowner, operator or captain holds a significant amount of responsibility for the accuracy of this information in the same way that airlines have responsibility for this entry control through their operations. I also believe that there is no doubt that flaws occur in this process, whether by design or by error. We do have some statistics showing the number of people slipping the net of the official immigration processes by jumping ship.

Mr Ruddock —I think I gave them to you.

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —Yes, and unfortunately I had to operate as your post office box to make sure that the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, who has responsibility for maritime in Australia, actually had the information before him. So, one way or another, we are educating the other side of the House—another joint effort.

The figures show that 148 were located, as against 263 jumping ship between March 1996 and April 1999. Each airline pays $5,000 per illegal entry. I understand that shipowners and operators pay next to nothing, which is a great contrast with the airline operators in Australia and, I dare suggest, an injustice and an inequity in the Australian system. I believe for that reason the Australian public needs to know why the government is not holding foreign shipowners and operators more accountable for the financial implications of ship jumpers. I believe if it is okay to recoup the cost from airlines, then we should be doing more to recoup the cost from the foreign shipping owners and operators.

It is clearly an issue about accountability and responsibility which has been delegated to the industry, but it is now an issue about revenue and the implications for the public purse. I suggest that we need to know what the government is going to do because it is about a rigorous immigration policy and its operation and it is about the integrity of the system and making sure that current weaknesses with respect to the shipping industry are cleaned up once and for all.

My second issue goes to the problem I have identified which is escalating because the number of foreign ships and foreign crew operating on our coastline is increasing at the expense of Australian jobs. I simply point out that the number of single voyage permits issued to foreign ships in Australia has increased from 421 to 704 since 1996. At the same time, continuing voyage permits have increased from zero to 41. I raise these in passing for the information to the minister for immigration because they clearly identify the fact that we need to act on this front now. It is clearly the government's policy to use the single voyage permit and associated permits in the maritime industry to undermine Australian jobs in that industry, whilst at the same time having the ordinary taxpayer carry the financial burden of a lack of rigour with respect to the policing of people jumping ship and the lack of accountability about the number nominated by the captain or person responsible for the ship. (Extension of time granted) These are very serious matters that I raise. I seek information both on the Iraqi front and on the issue of coastal shipping and accountability of shipping owners.