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

I thank Senator Bushby for his question. Thanks to the success of Operation Sovereign Borders in stopping this criminal trade the government has been able to announce additional savings measures of $500 million. Even more important than the financial dividend is the humanitarian dividend. We do not have men, women and children drowning at sea, we have smashed the people smugglers' business model and we can now provide refuge to those most in need.

Only one people-smuggling venture has reached Australia since Operation Sovereign Borders began turning back the boats. There has only been the one and it carried just 157 illegal maritime arrivals. That was compared to 534 boats loaded with 35,000 people in just the last 18 months of the Labor government. Over the course of the Labor government we saw 8,400 children arrive by boat, their young lives put at risk by making that dangerous journey. At the height of their immigration failure, Labor's mishandling of border security resulted in almost 2,000 children in detention. Under us this has now reduced to only 120, but we agree that is 120 too many. Our strong and effective policy has allowed the coalition government to empty and close many of the 17 additional detention centres opened by Labor at great cost to the Australian people.

We have now got a proper border security policy. Our borders are stronger. Countless lives have been saved and our costs are down. Under the coalition you get good humanitarian policy with good economic policy.