[Extracted from House of Representatives Hansard, 1 June 2004, pp.29463-6]

[29463]

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3374)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indige- nous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

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Did the Minister's department establish a Boats Sub-Program within its budgeting and financial reporting structures; if so, what has that sub-program revealed in respect of the cost of managing people who have entered Australia on suspect illegal entry vessels in each financial year since 1 July 1996.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

Yes. However, a breakdown of costs for managing people who have entered Australia on SIEVs is not available for the entire period requested. Departmental records show that the actual cost in 2001-02 averaged approximately $35,000 per person.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3375)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has the Minister's department developed models to identify the full cost per person of the management of people who have arrived in Australian territorial waters on board suspect illegal entry vessels; if so, what have those models revealed for each financial year since 1 July 1996.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

No.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3378)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has the Minister's department estimated the cost of the management of people who have arrived in Australian territorial waters on board suspect illegal entry vessels on (a) a cash, and (b) an accrual basis; if so, what was the cost for each financial year since 1 July 1996.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

Please refer to QON No. 3374.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3380)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

(1) What has been the port of departure of each suspect illegal entry vessel (SIEV) which has arrived in Australian waters since 1 June 1996.

(2) In respect of each SIEV, what route was followed before it entered or sought entry to Australian territorial waters.

(3) In respect of the SIEVs since 1 June 1996 which reached the distance of 12 nautical miles from Australia without having been detected, (a) how many were there, (b) what was the identity of each vessel, and (c) on what date each vessel was detected.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) to (3) The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs does not collect this information. Since 1 June 1996 198 SIEVs have reached the Migration Zone.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3381)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Is it a function of the Minister's department to detect the entry of suspect illegal vessels into Australia; if so, has the department undertaken any program performance monitoring in respect of that function.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

No.

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Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3382)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has the Minister's department established a time frame for receiving notice from Coastwatch of the arrival in port of suspect illegal entry vessels; if so, what is it.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

Coastwatch will advise the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs of the arrival or first detection of a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) as soon as possible after Coastwatch becomes aware of the vessel.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3388)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has the minister's department undertaken any work to assess the cost of detecting and managing people seeking entry to Australia who have arrived on board suspect illegal entry vehicles; if so, what was the cost each financial year since 1 July 1996.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

No.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3390)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has any agency within the Minister's portfolio analysed information on the method of detection of suspect illegal entry vessels (SIEV) in Australian waters since 1 June 1996; if so, in respect of each SIEV, was it detected by (a) marine surveillance flights; (b) Navy patrol boats, (c) other vessels, and (d) community reports.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

No.

Coastwatch
(Question No. 3392)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has the Minister received advice on whether differing functional responsibilities between the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and Coastwatch has inhibited the approach of the department or Coastwatch to the detection and apprehension of suspect illegal entry vessels; if so, (a) what was the advice, (b) when was it received, and (c) what action has been taken in response.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

No.

This was one of a range of issues considered by both the Australian National Audit Office during the 1999-2000 inquiry into Coastwatch and later, by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit during its enquiry into civil surveillance program arrangements. Neither inquiry identified any concerns or issues regarding these arrangements.

I refer the Honourable Member to the committees' reports of their findings.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3396)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 24 March 2004:

Has the Minister's department developed a boarding guide or other manual to guide officers in respect of suspect illegal entry vessels; if so, what procedures and processes are set out in that guide or manual.

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Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

There is a range of material relating to the questioning of unauthorised boat arrivals. These are operationally sensitive and are not released publicly.

Immigration: Illegal Entry Vessels
(Question No. 3419)

Mr McClelland asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 29 March 2004:

In respect of each of the suspect illegal entry vessels carrying people to Australia since 1 January 2000, when was the first time that a Government agency received a report of the vessel moving towards the Australian coast line.

Mr Hardgrave-The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs is unable to provide the information requested.

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