Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. With a heightened terror threat, there is just no way that any serious coalition government—any government in the tradition of John Howard—should be allowing rapid-fire weapons on a very large scale into our country. Does the Prime Minister agree with that statement?

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. Can I say again, categorically: my government will never weaken Australia's gun laws. I wish I could say the same, however, for the opposition. As this duplicitous opposition leader knows, who stands up, dripping with sanctimony about guns: he is the leader that has twice opposed mandatory sentences for people who smuggle guns. The guns that kill, the guns that terrorists use, are smuggled guns—illegal guns. We know that and so do the families of their victims. We want to stop that. We work day and night to keep our country safe, and we have asked you to support mandatory sentences. And what does the Labor Party say?

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What does old Guthrie Featherstone QC MP here say?

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs is warned!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What does he say? He says, 'We oppose mandatory sentences in principle.' That is what he says. Oh, yes—the smugglers' friend!

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs has been warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, really—let's call that Smugglers Cove over there! All he needs is a parrot and he could be a pirate!

This threat of illegal firearms is a threat to the safety of every Australian. The vast majority of gun crimes—the vast majority: over 90 per cent—are committed with illegal weapons. They come into this country illegally. They are smuggled, as hundreds of Glocks were smuggled during the Labor government. They come in here, smuggled, and we have to stop it. And we know that strong mandatory sentences will send a message to the terrorists, and we have asked Labor to support that. And they will not. They say they have a principle of objection. Well, under the Rudd government, Labor supported—indeed, proposed—mandatory sentences for people smugglers, then, in government.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs has been warned!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But now, in opposition, it is not so much a party of principle as a party of politics; a party of hypocrisy; a party of sanctimony; a party that puts the interests of the criminals who seek to bring these guns into Australia ahead of the safety of the men and women they have pledged to represent. We asked them to strengthen our laws, to stop these illegal weapons coming into Australia, and what have they done? They have rebuffed us. They have no interest in keeping Australia safer. We will not be given lectures on national security from this reckless opposition.