Save Search

Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
 Download Current HansardDownload Current Hansard    View Or Save XMLView/Save XML

Previous Fragment    Next Fragment
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Page: 936


Mr HAASE (2:28 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her comments in the House that the government’s intention to accommodate 1,200 detainees at the Curtin detention centre was funded in the budget. Will the Prime Minister refer the House to the page in the budget papers or any media statement by the Prime Minister or minister that makes reference to a capacity of 1,200 places at Curtin detention centre funded by an appropriation in the budget?


Ms GILLARD (Prime Minister) —We are having a very strange day in question time indeed. I regret to inform the member that I do not have committed to memory every page of the budget and every line item in the budget. In the time that I have been in this parliament, possibly the former member for Bradfield might have been able to achieve that feat, but I am not aware of anybody else with that capacity. Obviously, when budget appropriations were done they were done appropriately. As I have said in this parliament before, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship works through—


Mrs Bronwyn Bishop —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The direct question was: ‘Where is the reference in the budget to that material?’ Perhaps the Prime Minister could be honest and take it on notice and come back to the House.


The SPEAKER —The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. The Prime Minister has the call.


Ms GILLARD —I repeat for the member for Mackellar that I do not have committed to memory every page of the budget and every word on every page of the budget. Obviously, the budget deals with appropriations for the department of immigration, and those appropriations are used for detention purposes, including being used for the announcements that have been made most recently. In the announcement made on Monday, there was a net additional spend of $54 million.


Mr Haase —I seek leave to table page 326 of the budget measures 2010-11. It is an appropriation for capital works—

Leave not granted.