Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion. We do not run a shipping news service for people smugglers. Operation Sovereign Borders is a military-led border security operation. It has clear, established communication protocols designed by the Joint Agency Task Force led by Lieutenant-General Campbell to support the effectiveness of the operation. These procedures, restricting the official information available to people smugglers, are designed so as not to advantage people smugglers. People smugglers use official information provided by governments, especially when that information is specific, to sell and promote their product and create perceptions amongst potential illegal entrants to Australia. That helps them, not Australians. Details of illegal arrivals by boat will be provided in accordance with the protocol established by Operation Sovereign Borders at the scheduled weekly briefings. The next scheduled report will be provided tomorrow.