Nicolle Flint (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Home Affairs. Would the minister update the House on the importance of a unified and resolute approach to tackling criminal people-smuggling syndicates? Minister, has the government's approach been successful, and would alternative ideas put this success at risk?

Mr Albanese interjecting—

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

I call the Minister for Home Affairs. The member for Grayndler will cease interjecting.

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

I thank the honourable member very much for her question. The reality is that the Labor Party at the moment is at war with itself. The fact is that when it comes to border protection policies, the Labor Party is tearing itself apart. People across the country are completely bewildered with the position that the Labor Party now finds itself in. We have Labor candidates and Labor members of parliament who are clearing comments off their social media pages in relation to border protection policies. We even have one of the senior frontbenchers within the Labor Party doctoring transcripts, providing false transcripts and even fabricating the words of the great David Speers from Sky News. In a transcript issued by the member for Barton there was a complete and utter disconnect with what had actually been said during the course of the interview, when she announced that the Labor Party would put time limits in place and would unwind the successful border protection policies of this government.

It doesn't stop there, because on the weekend there was a Victorian ALP conference at which the following motion was to be put: 'That the Labor Party should close the offshore detention centres, transit centres and other camps on Manus and Nauru within the first 90 days.'

Mr Perrett interjecting—

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

The member for Moreton!

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

Now, what happened during the course of that debate, where people would argue for and against strong border protection policies? Do you know what happened? The CFMEU rode into town on their Harleys and hopped off and went inside, and the debate was closed down—then and there. The bikies within the CFMEU don't only muscle-up on building sites; they turn up at convention centres where the Labor Party is seeking to conduct a debate—

Ms Chesters interjecting—

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

The member for Bendigo is warned!

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

They turn up to convention centres, where the Labor Party is seeking to conduct a vote and they close the debate down.

What deal was done between this Leader of the Opposition and the CFMEU that they would move their block of considerable votes and stop this debate in relation to border protection? What back room deal was done by this union leader who now parades as a Leader of the Opposition? What dodgy deal was done that's not been disclosed to the Australian public? Well, we don't know, because it happened before the last election as well.

The reality is that we have stopped boats. It is 1,402 days today since we had a successful people-smuggling operation.

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Griffith will leave, under standing order 94(a).

The member for Griffith then left the chamber.

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

Under the Labor Party's watch 1,200 people were drowned at sea and it cost $16 billion—money that can't be spent on frontline services. Never trust this Leader of the Opposition. (Time expired)