Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. This is a very important issue. I guess I expected this was such an important issue that there would be a bipartisan approach to these matters, but clearly those opposite do not see it as such an important issue.

In relation to people smugglers, we know—and I am hoping those opposite understand—that people smugglers feed on the vulnerabilities of the millions of people affected by regional and global conflicts like those in Afghanistan, the recent conflict in Sri Lanka and those in Pakistan and in Somalia, to name a few. Those conflicts of course have led to an increase in people smuggling and an increase in those people seeking refuge. People smuggling, as we know, is an abhorrent and despicable trade. And the Rudd government will continue to take all necessary and all reasonable steps to end this criminal transnational business.

That is why we have provided a $654 million strategy for governments to combat people-smuggling and strengthen Australia’s border. We are funding strategies that will support the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Australian Federal Police and other government agencies to work with source and transit countries to stop ventures before they can be launched. Customs have provided over $405 million to deter people from attempting the dangerous journey to get to Australia. Customs will also provide the resources to work with governments and intelligence agencies in critical transit countries and to detect and intercept boats on the way to Australia through increased maritime patrol and surveillance.

The Australian Federal Police have been provided with a further $41.6 million to enhance the capacity of the people-smuggling strike team and foreign law enforcement agencies. The Australian Federal Police will build the capacity of law enforcement agencies in critical transit countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka by financing local law enforcement operations and by providing training and operational support. The government will also spend $13.6 million over two years to strengthen our legal and prosecution capacity—again, another very important element to the government’s strategy. Our border protection and people-smuggling policies are tough and they are strong. This government is determined to stop people-smugglers and to keep the borders of our nation safe.

See this speech in context