Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

We understand that the people smugglers need the clearest possible message. They need a message which says unequivocally: you will not be able to get your passengers to Australia, full stop. You will not succeed. That is what enables us to have one of the most generous humanitarian programs in the world. That is what has enabled us to take 12,000 refugees from the conflict zone in addition to our annual quota.

But what have we heard from the Labor Party this week? They have scoffed and trivialised border security. The Leader of the Opposition yesterday said:

… we're not on a unity ticket to stop tourists.

Are the people smugglers tourist operators? Is that what the Labor Party believes? Are they just tourists? Is this the way in which the Labor Party treats national security? We have seen this complacency before. This is precisely the scoffing, sneering, patronising complacency of the Labor Party that was in evidence some years ago under Kevin Rudd, when he mocked members of the Liberal Party and members of the National Party when we challenged him for his neglect of our border security. The consequence was the tragedy that followed: 50,000 unauthorised arrivals, 1,200 deaths at sea of which we know, more misery, and people put into Nauru and Manus that we have been endeavouring to resettle, with no thanks to and no help from the Labor Party that put them there. It is time the Labor Party took border security seriously. It is time they owned up to their responsibilities as an alternative government, and stood up for Australia and the integrity of our borders.

See this speech in context