David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Fifty thousand people arrived illegally. It is estimated that 1,200 people drowned and, of course, that number includes children. Eight thousand people were placed in detention by those opposite. When we came to government, there were 2,000 children in detention. We got them all out. Those opposite opened 17 detention centres. They opened Curtin immigration centre, they opened Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, they opened the Scherger Immigration Detention Centre, they opened Wickham Point Immigration Detention Centre, and, of course, they opened the Christmas Island immigration detention centre because of the catastrophic failure of their policies.

What we have done? We closed the Curtin immigration centre, we closed the Scherger immigration centre, we closed the Northern Immigration Detention Centre, we closed the Wickham Point Immigration Detention Centre. Do you know what we did just a couple of weeks ago, Mr Speaker? We closed the Christmas Island detention centre, and we did that because this Prime Minister and this Minister for Home Affairs stopped the boats, which allowed us to get people out of detention. The record of those opposite is an appalling stain. We'll never repeat it. We will never allow people-smugglers to get back into business.

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