Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

Well, back to the cant and the hypocrisy from those opposite. It is good to get you back on the record, because, whether it is to the home port or the sea boundary, Indonesian authorities have continually confirmed they will not reach an agreement with Australia to turn back boats. That leaves a massive, gaping credibility gap in those opposite. We have seen the weasel words in recent months from Mr Abbott: 'No, we won't stop the boats immediately; it may take us three years or we may have to change the rules a few times.' Under the existing rules, the High Court rulings, we need to change the laws. Those opposite know that. They are engaged in the most rank hypocrisy. When Indonesia's ambassador to Australia was asked about this on 31 May this year, this is what he said:

I think it's not possible for the Coalition to say that it has to go back to Indonesia because Indonesia is not the origin country of these people.

…   …   …

… no such collaboration will happen between Indonesia and Australia [to] bring back the people to Indonesia.

What was the coalition's response? We had the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Ms Bishop, say:

I would expect the ambassador to say those things publicly.

Before the ambassador's statement, the shadow minister for foreign affairs, that arch diplomat in waiting, had said to Lenore Taylor:

… professional diplomats are paid to present, ahh, particular views but what goes on behind the scenes can be quite different - what people say privately can be different to what they say publicly …

The coalition might think it is okay to say one thing and mean another. That might be the standard operating manual for those opposite, but it is outrageous— (Time expired)