13th Nov 2013, 9:11 AM – Representatives Motions — National Security — Transparency of asylum policy

The majority voted in favour of a motion "That the member be no longer heard", which was introduced by Liberal MP Christopher Pyne in respect to Labor MP Tony Burke.

Mr Burke had just moved the following motion:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Watson [Mr Burke] from moving the following motion forthwith: That the House:

(1) notes:

(a) that the Prime Minister committed to lead a Government which is transparent and open and the Coalition's Real Solutions platform stated that the Coalition would "restore accountability and improve transparency measures";

(b) the Leader of the House [Mr Pyne] on 30 January 2013 committed himself to a parliamentary practice in Government to "allow any Member of any political party who has serious questions to answer, time to explain themselves through the Parliament to the Australian people"; and

(c) the Prime Minister [Mr Tony Abbott] and Minister for Immigration [Mr Scott Morrison] have adopted a new culture of secrecy and are hiding information from the Australian people. The Minister has repeatedly refused to answer questions at weekly Operation Sovereign Borders briefings. That failure to answer questions has led the Australian people to rely on the Jakarta Post for information about their own Government. Questions remain relating to attempted so-called turn backs of boats, buy back of boats and to the state of negotiations between Australia and Indonesia about a people swap arrangement with Indonesia; and

(2) calls on the Minister for Immigration to attend the House immediately and explain for a period not exceeding thirty minutes:

(a) the status of all discussions with Indonesia about the progress of Operation Sovereign Borders,(Read more about Operation Sovereign Borders on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services site here. ) including those discussions relating to a people swap arrangement with Indonesia;

(b) how the Government intends to pursue its election commitment to turn back boats to Indonesia and buy back boats in fishing villages; and

(c) whether any of the measures which have been effective in reducing the flow of asylum seeker vessels to Australia are now in jeopardy as a result of the Minister's chaotic handling of his portfolio including the Regional Resettlement Arrangements with Papua New Guinea(Read more about the Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea here. ) and Nauru(Read more about agreement that Australia has with Nauru here. ) and the abolition of visa on arrival arrangements in Indonesia for Iranians(Read more about the abolition of visa on arrival arrangements in Indonesia for Iranians here.)