Mr WAKELIN (2:17 PM) —My question—

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Grey will resume his seat.

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Grey was asked to resume his seat solely because of the intervention of the member for Swan.

Mr WAKELIN —My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Can the minister inform the House of discussions held last week in Canberra with the Prime Minister of Thailand on the joint activities both countries are undertaking to tackle the issue of people-smuggling? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

Mr DOWNER (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —I thank the member for Grey for his question. I recognise the stalwart work that he does in support of the government's policies on people-smuggling. The member for Grey has been unequivocal in his support of protecting Australia's borders. Thailand is one of Australia's closest regional partners, and that applies in the fight against people-smuggling as well as in many other activities. The visit of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin to Australia last week was not only a very great success but it provided an opportunity for the government to discuss people-smuggling issues with Prime Minister Thaksin, as we had done the previous week in Bangkok.

Thailand is leading the development of the practical work program agreed at the Bali regional conference, including in areas like information and intelligence sharing, law enforcement, border management and return operations. We particularly congratulate the Thais on the work they are doing as chair of one of the two working groups that were established in Bali. One manifest example of Thailand's cooperation with Australia on people-smuggling is the arrest of the notorious people-smuggler, Hasan Ayoub, with the case for his extradition to Australia currently before the Thai courts. We very much appreciate the assistance that Thailand has been providing. That is in addition to assistance from countries like Indonesia and Malaysia as well.

The honourable member for Grey asked whether there are any alternative approaches, and that makes one reflect on the Labor Party, because the Labor Party apparently has an alternative approach. I noticed at the weekend that the Queensland Labor Party state conference passed a motion that supports an end to the current system of detention. I also note that the Leader of the Opposition, who had been booed at the conference the previous day, scurried away and did not stand and defend the case that he apparently argued, that he somehow supports the policy of detention. The situation now is that the New South Wales branch of the Labor Party and the Queensland branch of the Labor Party are both against the policy of detention. The Queensland and New South Wales branches of the Labor Party say that people who come illegally to Australia should be allowed out into the community. The Leader of the Opposition's authority on this issue has twice been overturned by major state conferences. I remind the House that on 6 February, on the Sunrise program, the Leader of the Opposition said:

Have you heard of anyone now, Mr Speaker, who the Leader of the Opposition himself may have heard arguing for the abolition of mandatory detention? Here is a party deeply divided. I have noticed, though, that the member for Lalor, who I think is the spokesperson on immigration, after the Queensland Labor Party conference said:

that is, the Labor Party—

She then went on to say disingenuously, if ever there were a disingenuous comment:

The same sort of theme came from the member for Rankin, who apparently is the Leader of the Opposition's closest adviser and confidant. I read in the newspapers that some people back there are not very happy about that. However, what the member for Rankin said after the Labor Party rolled the Leader of the Opposition was:

on this issue. The member for Griffith, who is always a laugh a minute, said:

It is hardly surprising that, sitting quietly up the back there, hardly saying a word other than the occasional point of order, is the member for Brand, just waiting to swoop.