THE HON. DARYL WILLIAMS
ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA

Daryl Williams, thanks for your time.

It’s very good to be here, thank you.

Attorney-General, we’re having a lot of problems up in Woomera at the moment, aren’t we?

We have been experiencing one or two problems in the Woomera area recently, yes. The people being held in detention there are engaging in what I would describe as acts of destruction.

Wanton destruction.

‘Acts of wanton destruction’, yes.

Why are the people being held there?

These are people who are waiting for their applications for refugee status to be processed.

And why don’t they like being in a jail in Woomera?

I’ve got no idea.

Is it a nice place?

It’s a beautiful place, an absolutely beautiful place. It’s got walls.

A roof?

Roof, yes.

Fence?

A beautiful fence. It’s got one of the best fences I think I’ve ever seen in my life.

Really? Any trees?

No trees. But a fantastic fence.

Flowers?

Flowers, no. The fence is a ripper, but there aren’t any flowers.

Just walls and roof and the fence?

Yes, an absolutely beautiful fence.

Is it near anything?

The building?

Yes.

Yes. It’s very near the fence.

I mean, are there towns nearby?

No, this is a detention centre. It’s not a hotel we’re talking about.

Is there a visiting area?

What’s a visiting area?

You know, a place for people to visit people.

No, nobody’s going to be visiting these people. It’s in Woomera.

And what do these people want?

They want to have their applications processed and get out.

And become part of the community?

That’s right. But they’re not going to do that so long as they behave in the way in which they have been. They set fire to the place. We’re not going to be intimida—

What would happen if they stop causing problems at the detention centre?

What they’ve got to understand is that they must stop these acts of wanton destruction. They’ve got to cease being vandals and settle down.

And what will happen if they do?

If they do, we can then look at the possibility of perhaps engaging in some discussion that might ultimately move towards an application review of some kind, at some stage, in respect of some of these people. And actual processing may result in some instances.

But minister, isn’t that the problem? Isn’t that the reason for their actions? That we’re not processing their applications?

We’re not going to process anything at all under any circumstances, if they keep behaving in the way in which they have been.

Aren’t they behaving like that purely because you’re not doing these applications for them?

We will refuse to process anything so long as people are acting like this. That’s what they’ve got to understand and that’s what I’m indicating to you.

OK. And what happens if they do stop?

If they don’t stop, we’re not going to process anything. That’s the position.

And if they do stop?

Unless they stop, nothing will happen.

So we’ll hear their applications if they do stop?

We won’t be hearing anything unless they stop. That’s what I’m saying to you.

Yes, but if they stop, will we process their applications for them?

Let me put this another way. The way to get us to hear their applications is to stop doing what they’ve been doing. They’ve got to stop behaving like vandals.

They’ve got to stop engaging in acts of wanton destruction?

Wanton destruction, yes. Your term. They’ve got to stop doing that.

But if they stop the acts of wanton destruction, will we process their applications?

Not if they keep behaving the way they have been.

Daryl Williams, thank you very much.

Thank you. I just wanted to clarify the government’s position.