Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

The recommendations from the expert panel, as the opposition well knows, included regional processing in Nauru and PNG as soon as practicable. We believe the measures we are putting in place will be effective and over time that will be proven to be the case. The combination of an increased refugee intake from offshore to 20,000 and no advantage for those who arrive by boat, as I said yesterday, removes the attractiveness—and I will keep saying it because it will.

As far as implementing Nauru and PNG, work is well underway. Each day there are reports of progress in that regard. We have confirmed the second transfer of asylum seekers to Nauru has taken place. Again, no force was used to get asylum seekers on or off the plane. All clients were fully compliant at every stage of the transfer. For too long now people smugglers have peddled lies and false promises that have led to too many tragic deaths. This is an enormous step towards breaking this evil trade. The message is clear: if you come to Australia by boat you are subject to being transferred to Nauru or PNG. There is no advantage to coming to Australia by people smuggler boats.