Senator CASH ( Western Australia — Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Employment and Minister for Women ) ( 14:18 ): Thank you, Senator McKim, for the question. In response to your question the answer is: no, settlement is in no way any admission at all of liability. It is opportune, though, given that Senator McKim has given me the opportunity to do this, to remind the Australian people of exactly why today's settlement occurred and the events that actually brought it into play. Senator McKim, let me tell you exactly. When the former Howard government lost office in 2007, do you know how many people there were in detention? Colleagues, would you like to have a guess? Less than a handful, Senator McKim. Do you know what the detention network— Senator McKim interjecting — The PRESIDENT: Order! A point of order, Senator Hanson? Senator Hanson: Mr President, I am very interested in hearing the answer to this, but I can't hear it with the interjection by Senator McKim. The PRESIDENT: I will remind all senators, but particularly Senator McKim—you were getting loud—not to interject during the answer. I invite the minister to continue. Senator CASH: As I was stating, the detention network was costing less than $100 million a year, but as a result of policies that you supported, Senator McKim, when Senator Hanson-Young was the relevant shadow minister—let me assure you that you are responsible for what has occurred leading up to today's settlement. You come in here full of fake rage. You come in here talking about people who have lost their lives. Well, under policies that Senator McKim supported, thousands of people lost their lives. You are directly responsible—through you, Mr President—for thousands and thousands of children risking their lives on boats and ending up behind bars. So please do not come in here with your fake rage and your sense of moral superiority when you yourself and the Australian Greens are responsible for what occurred. Government senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator McKim on a supplementary question.