Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Braddon for his question and for his keen interest in these issues. Over the course of this past year, in fact, since 9 December last year, there has not been a death at sea—not a single death at sea, this year, as a result of the strong border protection policies that have been put in place by this government. Critical to that achievement, this year, was the introduction of turn backs on 19 December last year. After the introduction of the PNG arrangement, which was supported by us when we were in opposition, there were 79 deaths that followed that announcement. Since the introduction of turn backs, on 19 December last year, there have not been any deaths.

The government are stopping the boats, which is something I know the member for Chisholm acknowledged earlier today. That was one of our core commitments going to the election. One of the other commitments was that we would resolve the legacy caseload of the 30,000 people Labor left behind on their watch and did not process. They just left 30,000 people behind, and 24,500 of them never even had their processing commenced under the previous government.

Mr Marles interjecting—

Are you going to ask me a question? If you are not, sit down.

Mr Marles interjecting—

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