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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-16 Daily Xml
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Immigrant Detention

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General on the topic of criminal convictions.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: Earlier this morning, the ABC reported that the federal government will rush legislation into parliament after the recent High Court decision to overrule Al-Kateb v Godwin, the result being that now around 80 criminals, murderers, child rapists and sex offenders will be released from detention, some of whom will be coming to South Australia. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister advise what criminal convictions those coming to South Australia have?

2. Does the minister intend to introduce legislation to this parliament to deal with the serious and significant threat?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her question. However, I do note that her colleague has already asked a question and probably in a much better way. You can certainly tell that they don't talk to each other on that side—they don't talk to each other.

The Hon. Michelle Lensink demonstrated her considerable experience as a former minister in the way she was able to navigate and ask a sensible, informed question. But you can tell nearly every day that, unfortunately, they don't listen to the Hon. Michelle Lensink. They just do not listen to her. We see it day in and day out with the sort of questions that are asked. I know the honourable member struggled a little bit with asking the question and understanding the procedure for asking questions, but I want to congratulate her because she is getting there, she is doing really well.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Point of order: this is turning into a debate. You are providing insults to the member rather than answering the question.

The PRESIDENT: It is not a point of order. Minister, if you could wind up your answer.

The Hon. H.M. Girolamo: You weren't even listening to the question.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Sit down. Is the minister continuing to answer?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The honourable member spoke in her question about what sort of offences people had committed. I know the police commissioner is on record talking about offences of violence or domestic violence. As I answered to the very well put together and informed question the Hon. Michelle Lensink asked earlier, the police commissioner has stated publicly that they will make sure they dedicate resources to monitoring those released who come to South Australia. As the honourable member helpfully stated in her question, legislation is looking to go through federal parliament as speedily as possible in relation to this situation.

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