‘Secret deal’ to secure repeal
LAWS making it easier for refugees in offshore detention to be brought to Australia for medical treatment have been scrapped.
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, who delivered the government victory, cried as she told parliament she would support the medevac repeal Bill yesterday.
Government Senate leader Mathias Cormann denied striking a secret deal with the crucial crossbencher.
But a tearful Senator Lambie said she couldn’t reveal what she proposed to the Coalition.
“When I say I can’t discuss it publicly due to national security concerns, I am being 100 per cent honest to you,” Senator Lambie told parliament. “My hand is on my heart and I can stand here and say that I would be putting at risk Australia’s national security and national interest if I said anything else about this.”
The firebrand Tasmanian said the Government had worked hard to advance a proposal but didn’t say what it was.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said there were conflicting accounts. “We had minister Cormann say that there was no deal. Now we’ve just heard Senator Lambie say there is a deal,” he said.
“Who’s lying? Who’s lying, minister Cormann? Are you lying? Or is Senator Lambie lying?”
Senator Cormann has said it was in the national interest for politicians to leave Canberra after the final sitting week of the year with a stronger border protection regime in place.
He said repealing the laws was a core promise the Coalition took to the election earlier in the year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said scrapping the laws would restore integrity to border security.
“We have always taken the actions necessary to ensure that Australians can have confidence in the way our borders are managed,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the medevac laws allowed people to “get around the rules” and find their way to Australia. However, he denied striking a deal with Senator Lambie.
It’s understood the Government may have agreed to send refugees from offshore processing to New Zealand.
The New Zealand immigration minister’s office said there was no formal request from Australia, but the offer remained on the table.