Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator O'Sullivan for the question and especially for the injunction at the very end of it. The government was elected by the Australian people with a very clear agenda: to build a stronger Australia by building a stronger economy, stronger communities, a cleaner environment and more modern infrastructure. Our commitment was and remains to build a strong, prosperous economy for a safe and secure Australia.

Many of Labor's legacy issues remain unfixed, including 30,000 illegal arrivals by boat. The government's legislation currently before this Senate is crucial to resolving that crisis, in particular, legislation reintroducing temporary protection visas, which will provide stability for genuine refugees while denying people smugglers a permanent visa product to sell to unwitting passengers.

The government has already agreed to a number of measures which will have results, including reducing the number of children in detention. Since coming to government, the number of children in detention has already decreased by about 50 per cent.