QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:36): The program didn't deliver as it was promised because people were not processed under the previous government. We had thousands of applications, and they have now been dealt with. It took a lot longer than it ought have.

The second point I make is that the program then gives people a right under the humanitarian program. There's not a separate visa. Obviously, there are calls on Australia's humanitarian program well in excess of the numbers of places which are allocated, but, as I said to you, you can see from the numbers the weight of that program: the largest single cohort is people from Afghanistan or Afghan nationals.

So I'm pleased that we have finally ensured that all of these applicants have been properly processed in accordance with Ms Thom's recommendations. (Time expired)