Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the work the Australian Border Force has undertaken with the Australian Federal Police to protect Australian families and the integrity of our borders?

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

I think I know how this is going to be book-ended now. I think the Manager of Opposition Business went a little bit too early, didn't he? He often stuffs up just at the wrong moment, but there you go. I want to thank the member for La Trobe for his question because he has the greatest respect for our law enforcement officers across the country. He supports the Australian Federal Police, he supports very strongly the Australian Border Force and so does this government. This government has absolute and complete faith in our law enforcement agencies because they are independent and they are proud of the fact that they are independent. We have stood up Counter Terrorism Unit officers in our international airports because we recognise the significant threat from terrorists, both those here and those that might seek to come to our country as well. We have seen 884 people stopped by the CTU officers since 2014, and those officers attached to the Australian Border Force walk hand in glove with the Australian Federal Police at our airports around the country.

Imagine how those Federal Police officers would have felt in the last 24 hours when their integrity has been questioned by those opposite.

Mr Tim Wilson interjecting—

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

The member for Goldstein is warned.

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

Imagine those officers who stand there every day to protect us. They are led by an exceptional leader in Commissioner Andrew Colvin. Imagine how he feels and his officers feel when up hill and down dale those members on the frontbench, those members opposite, have questioned the integrity of the Australian Federal Police. It is a disgraceful episode but, I'm sorry to say, it's not without precedent. It's not without precedent because the fact is that, for many years, union leaders in this country have seen themselves above the law. So when the Leader of the Opposition interjected earlier that the Prime Minister was up to—

Mr Brian Mitchell interjecting—

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

The minister will pause for a second. The member for Lyons has been warned numerous times, which is a regular occurrence. He can anticipate my next sentence; that's even quicker, thank you. The minister has the call.

The member for Lyons then left the chamber.

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

That's an improvement in the IQ level already.

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

The minister will withdraw.

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

I withdraw, Mr Speaker. So when the Leader of the Opposition said to the Prime Minister before that—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

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

The member for Shortland is warned.

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

he was up to his neck in it, I will tell you who is up to his neck in it: it is this bloke here. The Australian public are on to this Leader of the Opposition. Throwing these red herrings out will not distract from the fact that the Australian Federal Police, of their own volition, decided to raid the AWU because they are worried about the integrity of this Leader of the Opposition. And he has form: he has fronted the royal commission; he has been part of a union movement that has been proven to be corrupt in the courts; and they have paid penalties. (Time expired)