Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The senator asked me about scandals in the immigration department. I presume he is referring to two very high-profile cases and the consequences thereof. It is very clear what I have done as a consequence of that, with the government’s support. We now have a tremendous reform program across the immigration department.

The senator then describes today’s decision to withdraw a bill as a backflip. Clearly, the senator was not listening to the Prime Minister’s press conference. There is no backflip. There was a decision not to proceed with the bill because the Labor Party does not support the bill and some of our own colleagues are not prepared to support it. But there is no backflip. The vast majority of this party is very strongly in favour of that bill and of border protection. The last issue raised was the 457 issue. The only people who think that is a shambles are the senators opposite. (Time expired)