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

I have always maintained that, Senator—always. I think Senator Humphries uses a bit of dramatic licence, but it is a more accurate description of the period of the Howard government. What I can say is that we appreciate the support we have received from the opposition in the changes we have made to immigration policy since coming to government. We have received support from the opposition on all key measures except on the question of the abolition of TPVs, which they did not seek to disallow when they had the opportunity. But in recent times they have decided to reintroduce temporary protection visas. That of course is their call, but, as we know, Mr President, they did nothing to stop boat arrivals. In fact, in the years after the introduction of TPVs, record numbers of people came. The other thing to remember about temporary protection visas is that, of those people who were granted them by the Howard government, more than 90 per cent are very happily residing in Australia, many of them citizens now, making successful lives. So for the opposition to claim that somehow it was a deterrent—more than 90 per cent stayed. Very few—three per cent—went home. So clearly those measures failed. (Time expired)