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

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for her question. I would just like to confirm for the chamber that the announcement that was made by Minister Morrison today was made in relation to the Labor legacy caseload of approximately 33,000 people. The former Labor government, who was in an unholy alliance with the Greens, actually dumped these people into the community on bridging visas and, in some cases, with no work rights. They are the people that Senator Hanson-Young is referring to.

We on this side of the table are now clearing up the Labor legacy caseload. We have made it very clear that section 85 of the Migration Act gives the minister the power to cap the number of visas of a specified class that may be granted in a financial year. The minister determined to exercise his powers under section 85 of the Migration Act and that is exactly what he did, as he is entitled to do.