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Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Page: 2069

Asylum Seekers

Senator CASH (Western Australia) (14:23): My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Carr.

Senator Wong: He is not the minister; he is the minister representing the minister!

Senator CASH: The minister repre­senting, thank you. I refer to a report in the Daily Telegraph on 5 May 2011 in relation to the homemade bomb found at the Villawood detention centre which stated:

Villawood staff said the fire and bomb was reported to the department but no action was taken because it was classed as a minor incident.

If a fire resulting from a bomb is considered a minor incident generating no action, what would the minister consider a major incident that required action?

Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:24): Mr President, I thank Senator Cash for her question. Following a small fire on 19 March 2011, New South Wales police took possession of what they have referred to as a bomb. Importantly, the department did act appropriately in calling the fire brigade in the first instance and then alerting the police, who are now investigating the incident. Whether the device was actually a bomb or not is a matter for police investigation.

The fire was discovered and extinguished by Serco officers at 3.20 am on Saturday, 19 March 2011. Local emergency services were immediately called. The New South Wales police attended at approximately—

Senator Cash: Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. While I appreciate the minister's information in relation to what occurred at the detention centre, I am not asking about that. I am asking: what type of incident needs to occur for this government to consider it a major incident?

Senator Chris Evans: Mr President, on the point of order. It is clearly appropriate for Senator Carr, as a representing minister, to provide information from the brief he has from the responsible minister. It is directly on the topic that Senator Cash addressed to him. She has two supplementary questions to follow up with if she wishes further inform­ation. But he has been directly on the topic, providing what information he has about the incident, and it is quite outrageous to suggest that he is not being relevant. If there are other matters that are not covered in his primary answer, the senator has the opportunity to ask two supplementary questions. Senator Carr is being as helpful as he can be by providing the information that is supplied to him.

The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order.

Senator CARR: Mr President, I have been asked by Senator Cash about an incident that occurred at the centre on 19 March 2011. I am providing information. She has sought to rely on a newspaper report of the allegations as to what occurred on this occasion. I have provided information to the Senate on the basis of the information that has been provided to me by the minister. What I can indicate is that the New South Wales police are making inquiries into the nature of the events that occurred and that no person of interest in relation to the incident has been identified at this stage. The department advised the minister's office of the fire at the time but not of the discovery of the device or that the police had taken it for examination as possible evidence. In terms of what the senator seeks to assert is a matter of priority, that is entirely hypothetical.

Senator CASH (Western Australia) (14:28): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to the comments made by the immigration minister, Chris Bowen, on Sydney commercial radio on 4 May 2011 that he was not aware that a homemade bomb had been found at the Villawood detention centre one month before riots at the centre which resulted in nine buildings being gutted by fire. Why was the minister not aware of the homemade bomb and what steps has the minister taken to ensure he remains fully informed on the vital issues within his portfolio?

Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:28): I have indicated to Senator Cash that this is a matter of ongoing police inquiry as to whether or not it was actually a bomb, and that is a matter where we will wait for police advice.

In terms of the radio interview, the minister has already expressed his view that it was unacceptable that he was not informed of the discovery of the device, and he has made his concerns very clear to the department about the discovery of this homemade incendiary. The minister has instructed the secretary of the department to investigate why he was not informed and ensure that this does not happen in the future. There is not much more I can add to assist Senator Cash in that matter.

Senator CASH (Western Australia) (14:30): Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. How does the government expect the Australian people to have any faith in their so-called border protection policies if the minister was not even aware of a bomb in a detention centre until he was told by a talkback radio host?

Senator CARR (Victoria—Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) (14:30): What I have indicated is that whether this device was actually a bomb or something other than that is the subject of an ongoing police inquiry. The fire that was the subject of the incident itself was discovered and extinguished by Serco officers at 3.20 in the morning. The local emergency services were called immediately. The New South Wales police attended at 4 am and they took possession of what is now referred to as a bomb and returned later in daylight hours to take photographs. No person of interest has actually been identified at this stage as a result of the police inquiry. The department did not advise the minister at the time and the department secretary has been instructed to find out why not.