Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

(—) (): They've had a further 24 hours to consider the magnificent budget brought down by the Treasurer and they've come up with the same first question as yesterday, when they asked just one question of me and the shadow Treasurer asked just one question of the Treasurer. Remarkable! I note the shadow Treasurer can't even get an MPI in budget week. It's just absolutely extraordinary.

I am asked about migration. Yesterday, I informed the House—unchallenged—that the numbers were going to be higher under the coalition. The numbers were going to be higher under them. That's just a fact. I'm going to quote my friend the Leader of the National Party again here. He had some advice for the Liberal Party leader about immigration and where policy was. He said this:

We'll be constructive with this government in saying that we welcome the changes that they're bringing forward, we believe permanent migration is important …

He went on to say this:

We've got to acknowledge some of the challenges that we left behind, like the fact that there were nearly a million unprocessed visas is a failure …

You've got to put your hand up. … you've got to be honest with people.

He's going to be honest!

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