Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

So we have got a Minister for Immigration and Border Protection who has, through his policy, through his strength, ensured that, for almost 70 days, there has been no illegal people-smuggling venture arrive in this country. I think in the last 3½ years there have been five ministers for immigration. Four have failed; one has succeeded: the current Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

We all deeply regret the events in and around the Manus camp last week. We deeply regret that. What we are determined to do and what the minister is now doing is ensuring that we have the full facts—that the matter is fully investigated so that everything that is necessary to ensure that this camp is properly run can be done.

The interesting thing is: despite a very, very serious riot—a serious riot involving, we think, some hundreds of people—by the next morning the camp was operating; people were being fed, clothed and housed. That is as it should be.

We deeply regret—of course we do—the fact that Mr Reza Berati lost his life. We will do everything we can to ensure that never again does anyone lose his or her life because of illegal people smuggling. That is why it is so important to stop the boats and, thanks to this minister, the boats are stopping.

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