Senator O'BRIEN —My question is to Senator Vanstone, representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. The minister would be aware of her government's commitment to the removal of cabotage, thereby allowing foreign ships unrestricted access to the Australian coast. Is the minister aware that her former colleague the then minister for transport, Mr Sharp, received a report in March 1997, prepared by Mr Julian Manser, that warned that the removal of cabotage would require substantial changes to Australian immigration and customs controls. Is the minister aware that the current Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mr Anderson, has recently received another report on shipping reform? Can the minister confirm that this second report also addresses the issue of cabotage and immigration and customs control? Would the end of cabotage require changes to allow foreign seafarers to work in Australia for extended periods of time? Can the minister assure the Senate that the liberalised customs and immigration arrangements necessitated by the end of cabotage would not result in an increased number of people attempting to enter Australia illegally?

Senator VANSTONE (Justice and Customs) —I thank the senator for his question. The answer to the first question is no; to the second is no; to the third is no; to the fourth, I am unable to say; and to the fifth, I will make inquiries and get back to you.

Senator O'BRIEN —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. Given that the minister is not aware of either the first report or the report currently before the minister, will the minister undertake to make inquiries and to respond to the Senate in relation to that part of the question which arises from those reports, essentially the question of whether the end of cabotage would require changes to allow foreign seafarers to work in Australia for extended periods of time and whether that would then necessitate changes to arrangements so that it would not result in an increased number of people attempting to enter Australia illegally?

Senator VANSTONE (Justice and Customs) —Your supplementary was basically a repeat of your fifth question, and in response to that I said that I will make inquiries and get back to you. I repeat the answer.