Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a strange coincidence, isn't it, that, after nearly two years of ignoring temporary visa holders, the day before the border restrictions are eased this motion suddenly appears in the parliament for debate? The Prime Minister's loyal lemmings have lined up to spout this self-congratulatory prattle. I will just read two sentences from the motion indicating what we are apparently supposed to do. It moves that the House:

(3) commends the Government for reopening the international border to a range of economic and humanitarian visa holders from 1 December 2021; and

(4) welcomes the further carefully managed opening of our border to other visa holders, including visitors, when it is safe to do so.

Whatever that means! A more honest motion would go something like this: 'We condemn the government for failing to order enough vaccines or to build safe national quarantine last year. And this failure, your government's failure, has led to unnecessary lockdowns and months of delay in opening the borders.'

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