Senator CASH (Western Australia—Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women) (14:00): I thank the senator for her question. Senator Wong: Seriously, do you need a brief for that? Senator CASH: In answer to Senator Wong's interjection—no, I do not because, like all of the Australian people, we are completely aware of the fundamental policy failures of the former government in this particular area. I remind the senator, because she clearly is not aware of the facts, that there is currently a Labor legacy caseload of over 30,000 people who arrived under the former government and who are currently onshore and not in detention centres. Under the former government the detention centre capacity became exhausted— Senator Conroy: On a point of order, Mr President: this is an issue of relevance. The minister was asked a very specific question about current process, procedure and administration and at no point, with almost half the time gone, has the minister attempted to answer the question. This is identical to yesterday, when they refused to provide any answer at all and in fact said, 'We intend to not answer a question.' So, Mr President, I ask you to draw the attention of the minister to the question and invite her to answer it. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order at this stage. I am listening closely to the minister's answer. Senator CASH: As I was saying, this government is working calmly, methodically and practically—unlike the former government—to stop the boats. We had a Labor caseload legacy of in excess of 30,000 people who are currently onshore, a caseload that the former government did not advise the Australian people they did not begin processing— Senator Moore: On a point of order, Mr President: another 10 to 15 seconds have passed; we have 34 seconds left in this answer and we still have not heard anything about current policy. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: The minister has 34 seconds remaining and I draw her attention to the question. Senator CASH: In relation to what this government is going to be doing with the over 30,000 people which the former government let into the community and failed to even commence the processing of— Senator Wong: On a point of order, Mr President: this is bordering on contempt. The minister was asked—and I will repeat the question for her benefit—can the minister outline to the Senate the government's procedures for processing people arriving in Australia by boat? That was it. She has not even come close to the question. The PRESIDENT: As I said, I am listening carefully to the minister's response. The minister, at the 34-second mark, was reminded of the need to address the question and the minister still has 24 seconds remaining to do so. Senator CASH: In relation to the over 30,000 people that the former government failed to process, this government has been up-front and stated to the Australian people that we have restored temporary protection visas. In relation to the minister's question about what we will be doing in relation to people who come to Australia, perhaps the minister needs to read our policy. Senator Kim Carr: You are the minister! Senator CASH: Under our policy no-one is coming to Australia. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! When there is silence on my left, I will call Senator Wong. Senator Wong: Apparently the boat that arrived previously was a phantom boat. The PRESIDENT: Order! If you wish to debate the issue, the time to debate it is after 3 o'clock.