Senator GALLAGHER (Australian Capital Territory—Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council) (09:38): The government will not support this suspension motion moved by Senator Birmingham. I'll come to the substance of the motion that he has moved, but this is primarily because we have agreed on a program for today. It is set out and, in fact, those opposite are eating into the time that they requested for the debate on infrastructure this morning, which they sought specifically. So, by all means, disrupt the time that you had argued for yourselves and for Senator McKenzie to have on the infrastructure bill debate. On the substance of the argument that has been put by Senator Birmingham: I think it is important for those listening, and to get it on the record, that the government was required to release a cohort of detainees from immigration detention. Senator Cash interjecting— Senator GALLAGHER: And, as Senator Cash knows, we have been seeking, for a couple of days, to brief them, on agreed terms, on the legal advice. Unfortunately, that briefing, because of Senator Cash's and Mr Tehan's program, isn't able to be done until later this afternoon. Now we have been trying since early yesterday morning to offer those briefings so that you can be provided— Senator Birmingham: When's the House sitting, Katy? Senator GALLAGHER: because of the assertion that you made, that people didn't have to be released, with the information the government has. The government has acted in accordance with the legal advice that has been provided to us, and perhaps those opposite— Senator Hughes: How outstanding was that advice! You didn't even have the legislation prepared. Senator GALLAGHER: Yes, I know Senator Hughes can keep shouting at me, but perhaps she should read the statement that's just been tabled by the Attorney-General, which provides some further information on that. But we have been trying to provide those briefings to the opposition. One may suspect that they don't want to be provided with that, because it would actually change their narrative. We have acted in accordance with the law, with the advice that was given to the government, and, since that time, we have been working around the clock. There has been a taskforce established by ABF and the AFP. Senator Hughes interjecting— Senator Gallagher: I hear Senator Hughes besmirching the taskforce that is being managed by the AFP and the ABF, who have operational responsibility for the implementation of the monitoring of this cohort. Senator Hughes interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, please resume your seat. Order on my left. Senator Hughes, your constant interjections are disorderly and disrespectful. I'm asking you, I'm requesting you, I'm ordering you to listen in silence. Minister Gallagher, please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: So I would urge those opposite to actually read the statement provided by the Attorney-General. We have a taskforce that was established; we've been working with state and territory police; and we have been working around the clock to put in place protections, including at the point of release into the community, and since then, whether it be legislation or further amendments to that legislation. We have been providing the option for briefings for the opposition. Unfortunately, Senator Paterson, with portfolio responsibility, isn't here. I don't believe— The PRESIDENT: Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator Scarr? Senator Scarr: A point of order: reflection on the absence of a member. The PRESIDENT: I'll remind Senator Gallagher that we don't reflect in this chamber on whether shadows are, or anyone is, available or not available. Please continue. Senator GALLAGHER: I'm happy to follow your ruling on that, but Senator Paterson isn't available to be briefed on this bill, and we are, again, engaging with the opposition to provide those briefings. Unfortunately, the legal briefing, which we have been seeking to provide to the opposition, isn't able to be done until after four o'clock today, but, once that has been done— Senator Birmingham: When is the House next sitting, Katy? Senator GALLAGHER: Well, the House of Reps is sitting— Senator Birmingham interjecting— Senator Cash: Bring it on. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator GALLAGHER: We are happy to bring it on. We have been ready. We have been waiting for the agreement from the opposition, and the opposition have not provided that and have sought further briefings, which are happening later this afternoon. But this government has been working tirelessly. Those ministers have been working tirelessly. I have been working with them. They have been working around the clock. They have been thrown a complex and challenging situation, which we have responded to, with terms on visas, with legislation that has already passed and with further legislation that will pass this parliament this week. That has been done in a matter of weeks. Many of these people, when you were in government for nine years, sat in immigration detention with no pathway out—not one attempt to relocate or negotiate an outcome for those. That is the situation we've inherited. The court has found that that law is wrong, and we have been responding to it.