John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The legislation which will shortly be before the parliament does not involve the excision of the Australian mainland. That is the ludicrous proposition that has been put by the Leader of the Opposition. This legislation establishes a total consistency in the treatment of unlawful arrivals in Australia between people who might come onto the mainland and people who might come onto offshore islands. This legislation further entrenches a highly successful border protection policy, to which the government remains fully committed. It does not involve what the Leader of the Opposition has said. It is he who is being ludicrous.

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