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

Senator Hanson-Young, I think you and I are just going to have to agree to disagree in relation to so much of what you are going to put to me tonight. When it comes to costs, I have to say you are not one who can stand up in this chamber with any form of credibility, given that the policies that you supported so vocally under the former government led to an almost $12 billion cost blow-out for the Australian taxpayer. Everything that this government has done in this portfolio since it came to power has been to (a) restore integrity to our borders, and (b) ensure that taxpayers' money is efficiently spent.

Senator Hanson-Young, what you just do not seem to be able to grasp is that our humanitarian program costs the Australian taxpayer money. That is why it needs to be managed appropriately and that is exactly what we are doing.