Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I note that it was not just the Labor Party but also the minister’s own colleagues who were not prepared to support her bill. Perhaps it was on the advice that she provided earlier, where she characterised the measures in the bill as ridiculous.

My supplementary question is this: what authority does the minister have in her portfolio, given the scandal and continuing malaise around the administration of her department, the complete backflip on the unauthorised arrivals bill and the shambles that is the section 457 work visas issue? Isn’t it the case that the whole administration of migration in this country is a complete shambles? Shouldn’t the minister take authority for that and consider her position?