Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

I note the shadow minister for immigration routinely does this so he does not actually have to ask me a question in this place. If he has got a question, he should come in here and ask it; otherwise, he can keep his peace.

These results did not happen by accident, because we have gone about putting in the measures we said we would. We have repaired offshore processing after the mess—and unfunded mess—they left us. We have put in place the regional deterrence framework, which we said we would—45 ventures disrupted, 12 turn-backs. These were 12 turn-backs that those on that side said it couldn't be done ever. Twelve turn-backs were done in the first year alone. Even though those opposite have sought to deny the government its mandate to restore temporary protection visas, we have not been providing permanent protection visas to people who came to this country illegally by boat. Last week we acted to put those temporary protection visas which deny a permanent protection visa in place and to strengthen our powers to conduct turn-backs, which has been the key ingredient to this government's success in stopping the boats.

I commend the Palmer United Party for supporting this sensible legislation. They have been relevant to this discussion, as opposed to the irrelevance of those opposite. Those opposite, despite acknowledging that 'turn-backs may have had an effect', to quote the shadow minister, still say that they will keep an open mind on the measure. The only thing that will be open that if Labor were to sit on this side would be the borders, because that is what happened when they were last here. They have a test: when this legislation comes into this House and when this legislation goes to the Senate, those opposite can decide whether they are for turn-backs or they are against turn-backs. The Australian people will be watching just to see where your spine is, because they have not been able to see it in a very, very long time.

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