Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Hansard source

and turn vessels back on the high seas is very dangerous for the men, women and children on those vessels and is very dangerous for our own personnel on our vessels. Yet those opposite continue not to listen to the experts with respect to that advice. That is because they have total contempt for our naval and customs personnel.

We saw that displayed by the member for Cook, who just asked a question and then belittled the brave efforts of our customs and naval personnel. I was there on 15 December 2010 and I saw the absolute courage and valour of our personnel plucking people from the sea. You think it is a joke, Member for Cook. Well, it is not a joke. The fact is that we will continue to listen to the same security agencies that were listened to by the Howard government.

The difference here of course is that we have a Leader of the Opposition who does not listen to expert advice. He did not listen to the expert advice when it came to the global financial crisis. He will not listen to the expert advice when it comes to border protection. He will not listen to the expert advice when it comes to refugee settlement. This is an opposition who are all about slogans and empty promises, who never listen to the advice of the experts and continue to abuse and have little regard for our naval and customs personnel. This question is an outrageous slur on them, and you should hang your head in shame!

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