Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Why did the Albanese Labor government abolish the 'golden ticket' visa? Is the minister aware of proposals that would undermine the integrity of our visa system?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Blair for his question. When the member for Blair refers to the golden ticket visa, it's the name that's often given to the significant investor visa. This is a visa that was abolished by this government—and abolished for very good reason. It was not consistent with the integrity of the visa system that Australians would expect.

I had thought that was a bipartisan position because of the serious national security reasons that were associated with its abolition. But, over recent days, we've seen that once again the Leader of the Opposition didn't realise there was a boom mic overhead. And, when asked about this visa, he said—not realising he was being heard:

I think we'll bring it back. Whether we do it before the election … we'll have to consider all that.

There has been a response from the founder of the Magnitsky Act, Sir Bill Browder. If those opposite want to in some way discredit someone of that esteem, I suggest they first go to the homepage of Senator Paterson, where you'll find both Sir Bill Browder being praised in the parliament and his image. But here's what he's had to say about this proposal, and these are all quotes. It's 'reopening the door to organised crime'. I quote again:

The types of people who have taken advantage of this in the past are often the ones you least want to have coming to your country.

I quote again, in language which I would not use:

Australia is not such a poor country that it needs to prostitute itself to Chinese and Russian criminals.

I quote again:

It's hard to imagine that it's good politics to be standing in front of the Australian people and saying, 'we want to have potentially dodgy criminals buying their way into Australian residency and Australian passports.'

It seems like the kind of thing that someone might be doing just for a narrow group of political contributions.

When it comes to immigration policy, I suggest the Australian people don't look at what the Leader of the Opposition says but look at what he does. He opposed limiting the number of students coming in. He issued more visas than any other minister in history, and now he is wanting, as policy, cash for visas.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has concluded his answer, but I will call the manager on a point of order.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was very clear reflection on members on two occasions from the Leader of the House, and I ask that you direct him to withdraw them.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House was quoting articles. Are you talking about the remarks after? I didn't hear the specific comment, and I don't want you to repeat it.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Practice is very clear. Just quoting somebody else's words does not mean that the leader does not have to retract any reflection on a member. And the reflection was very clear in what he said.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The manager is entitled to raise a point of order, as any member is. My consistent policy is, in order to assist the House, to withdraw. But I'm unclear on what the reflection was.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the point of order, everything that was quoted was a description of a policy that is being proposed, and it is completely within standing orders for strong words to be used about a policy, particularly a policy that would be against national security advice.

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! We'll find a way through this. The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.

Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's very clear that the leader included a statement in the form of a quote that impugns members on this side of the House, particularly the Leader of the Opposition. You cannot mask that under the quotes of an external party. That's very clear in the Practice, and I would suggest, if the House resolves that's not required to be withdrawn, that would be a precedent that the opposition will assume is precedent.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to defer to the manager. I'm going to get the Leader of the House to withdraw but I'm not sure what he's withdrawing because it's a quote.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To the point of order, if I may assist, if I had read quotes that named the Leader of the Opposition and reflected on him—

An opposition member interjecting

No. If I had read quotes that named any member of this House and in that reflected directly on that person in that way, then you can't use a quote to hide behind that. I get that. The Practice is quite clear. Every quotation that I have used is a reflection on the policy that the Leader of the Opposition has advanced.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're going to hear from the Leader of the Opposition.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If it helps you—again, we don't have the proof of Hansardthere was a statement that was made, not a quote, by the minister at the end of the quotations which did impugn character and was offensive, and I ask him to withdraw it.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To assist the House, the Leader of the House?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The term 'cash for visas' is how the significant investor visa works. You get the visa on the basis you are bringing millions of dollars. That's how it works.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition, when I'm making deliberations, doesn't need to give me his full view of everything. He's done it a couple of times today, and I'm not happy about it. I will get the Leader of the House to withdraw to assist the House, but this will have an impact going forward when other quotes are used during question time.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To assist the House, I withdraw.