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Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Page: 12493

Asylum Seekers

Ms JULIE BISHOP (Curtin—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Will the Acting Prime Minister confirm that the government has received the same advice provided to the opposition at CHOGM last week that both Nauru and Papua New Guinea stand ready to reopen their processing centres?

Mr SWAN (Lilley—Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer) (14:21): I am not in a position to confirm that at all, because I was not there last week. But what I certainly am—

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER: The Acting Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition addressed a question to the Acting Prime Minister. The question was in order. The Acting Prime Minister was given the call. The Acting Prime Minister was responding to the question. I find it interesting that the opposition frontbench then decided that perhaps they had asked the wrong person. But the Acting Prime Minister has the call.

Mr SWAN: I am certainly in a position to confirm that the government is still actively pursuing a regional solution through the able leadership of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. That is what we are doing because that is what the national interest demands.