Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Hansard source

Billet them because they can't deal with the rents, they can't deal with the housing.

The Reserve Bank has warned that this is putting upward pressure on interest rates. And yet, what are you doing for these 1.5 million people?

Then think about the impact on the public health system. Think about the impact on those emergency departments. There has been no coordination with state and territory governments as to how to deal with the impact on the health sector, so those emergency departments will have more and more pressure on them. What will it mean for the doctor shortage if people won't be able to go in and see a doctor?

What we're seeing take place before our eyes is the result of doing no work in opposition. You had nine years to do your work in opposition—nine years to have a plan—but you come in here, and what do you do? I have to say that, sadly, it is typical for Labor. You lose control of the borders. It has happened before, and it is happening again—1.5 million with no plan.

I look forward to every member that stands up in response to this MPI mentioning the 1.5 million number. I dare you to mention that 1.5 million number that your budget figures show quite clearly. I've got a feeling that this 1.5 million number is going to be a bit like the $275 that no-one wants to mention. I might be wrong. I see the minister isn't here, and I see the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs isn't here, so maybe someone here will be brave enough to do it. I hope we will see a little bit more coordination between the Minister for Home Affairs and the minister for immigration. The Minister for Home Affairs gave her speech, where she wouldn't mention 1.5 million, while the minister for immigration was overseas. The poor old minister for immigration, when the budget was announced—do you know what? For someone who is normally tweeting about his fundraising with Dan Andrews and all that, there was not one tweet about the budget. He's gone into hiding; I don't know what's happened to him. And the Minister for Home Affairs has been put into hiding as well. Guess who are the two ministers who haven't had a question all week? There are only two of them. They've been through every one but two who haven't—the Minister for Home Affairs and the minister for immigration. Let's see you own up to your 1.5 million. (Time expired)

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