Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Does the minister recall comments by the Prime Minister on 17 June 2002 stating:

I want to make it clear that there is no intention—and there never has been—to excise any part of the Australian mainland. That is an absolutely ludicrous proposition.

Is the minister further aware of comments in the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee’s report on the proposed new laws that state:

... the Bill amounts to an effective ‘self-excision’ of Australia from the international protection regime for all unauthorised boat arrivals.

Why is the minister proceeding with a bill based on what the Prime Minister himself described as ‘an absolutely ludicrous proposition’?