House debates
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Questions without Notice
Cabinet
2:21 pm
Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Sunday, the Prime Minister referred to leaks from cabinet on national security as false reports. But today the Minister for Industry and Science said:
There's certainly been some very accurate statements made in newspapers in relation to discussions that were had in Cabinet …
Prime Minister, who is telling the truth—you or your minister?
2:22 pm
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I know that members opposite obsess over who said what to whom and what happened when, but the Australian people want to know that their national security is in safe hands—and with this government it abundantly is. Yet again, I confirm to the Leader of the Opposition that this government has a very strong policy to strip the citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals. Again, my question to the Leader of the Opposition is: what's your policy?
Ms Owens interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The member for Parramatta is warned!
Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Our policy is to strip citizenship from terrorists who are dual nationals. It is a very good and strong policy. It is an important part of our national security policy because the first priority of government is to keep our people safe, and that is what this government will do by stripping the citizenship from terrorists who have dual nationality. Again, I want to know where the Leader of the Opposition stands on this. Let me make it absolutely crystal clear. Anyone who lifts a gun or a knife to an Australian because of who we are has forfeited any right to be considered one of us. That is the fundamental principle. Does the Leader of the Opposition agree that someone who raises a gun or a knife to an Australian because of who we are has forfeited the right to be considered one of us? That is what we believe. What does he believe? Yet again, we just don't know.