Senator NETTLE (2:35 PM) —My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, representing the Minister for Defence. My question relates to the recent announcement by the Minister for Defence about the Australian Navy’s involvement in joint patrols with the Indonesian navy. Has the government sought written legal advice about whether the actions of the Australian Navy in returning West Papuan asylum seekers to face persecution in Indonesia are a breach of the refugee convention?

Senator IAN CAMPBELL (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —Thank you very much for the question. I do not have a brief on that, but I am happy to take it on notice and get an answer for the senator.

Senator NETTLE —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is the minister aware of comments by a number of legal experts to the Senate inquiry into the government’s new migration legislation that the deployment of the Australian Navy to interdict asylum seekers and return them to Indonesia when carried out in respect of Indonesian nationals would be a clear breach of the refugee convention? Will the government seek specific advice on this issue?

Senator IAN CAMPBELL (Minister for the Environment and Heritage) —I have said that I will get a brief on that. If you do not know the answer, it is better in politics to actually be honest about it, so I have done that. I will get that brief.