Louise Markus (Macquarie, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. I remind the minister that the government, through Operation Sovereign Borders, has stopped the boats, ended the deaths at sea and regained control of Australia's borders. Will the minister inform the House of the effect of the government's successful border protection policies on this year's budget?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Macquarie, and I acknowledge her hard work as the chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. She is a great local member. She is a very strong voice for Macquarie in this place on matters relating to migration and national security. In this year's budget in this portfolio we were able to give back $500 million to the budget so that we can pay for the measures associated with childcare increases in the support for parents with kids; small business measures; measures for tightening biometric security at our borders; and a number of other budget measures, which of course were not possible when Labor were in power, because in this portfolio they had an $11 billion blowout because 52,000 people came on 800 boats. Not only is it a budget saving but, more importantly, there are the 1,200 people who drowned at sea under Labor. That death and carnage has now stopped under this government because we have been able to stop the boats. We have been able to turn back boats where it is safe to do so. At the ALP conference in a couple of weeks, the Leader of the Opposition, if he is worth anything, will get up and stand down Tanya Plibersek on the Left on this very important issue—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney will desist.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

because, if they do not turn back boats where it is safe to do so, the boat arrivals will recommence and the deaths at sea will recommence.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney is warned!

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When you look at the incompetence that prevailed during Labor's time in government, it was not just in relation to economic management. The member for Lilley is smiling up there. He is reading the chapter. What chapter are you up to, Swanny? Is this for or against Bill Shorten? For or against Julia? For or against Kevin? Where are you up to in the book?

Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member should refer to members by their correct title.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has the call and will refer to members by their correct title.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take it as a heavy blow. The point of all of this is that, if you look at the incompetence that prevailed when Labor was last in government, it still sits on that front bench. It has been 300 days since we have had a successful people-smuggling venture come to this country—300 days under Operation Sovereign Borders. The member for Watson could only manage six days. He tied, of course, with the member for Gorton, Mr O'Connor; he had six days as minister—a long period of six days between boat arrivals. A massive achievement, trumped of course by the member for McMahon, who was clearly an overachiever in the Labor government—it was 23 days. While he was writing his book about the success of Fuelwatch and Grocery Watch, he managed to get through 23 days with no boat arrivals. The point of all of this is that Labor ripped apart the economy when they were in government. They destroyed border security. If they are re-elected at the next election they will do it all again.