Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It would be better if this motion did not have to be put forward in this chamber. It would not be necessary if we had a basic acceptance of transparency, a bit more of being up-front with the Australian people and a bit more respect for the parliament—even just the answering of questions during question time in relation to this government's border protection policies. But the fact is that you are absolutely gutless in not putting on the table what is really going on. What are you hiding if you are not able to just tell people, 'Yes, boats have arrived; we have tried to turn around a boat here; it did not work'? That is absolutely gutless. That is sheer hypocrisy—gutless. The reason Mr Abbott, the Prime Minister, does not want the Australian people to know is that the wheels have fallen off his policy. Everybody knows it. The emperor's new clothes have absolutely been exposed.