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

I can, and I am disappointed to advise the Senate that there are alternative proposals to the government's strong border protection policies. Unfortunately, those on the other side have thus far refused to back anything that this government have done in relation to securing our borders. You also have the failure of the current Leader of the Opposition to admit that the coalition's policies of turn-backs, which ironically were Mr Rudd's policies leading up to 2007 election, have actually worked. We also only need to look as far as those on the other side and their policy that will get rid of temporary protection visas in the event that they are re-elected to government. Again, on this side of the chamber, we understand that if you cannot control our borders, you cannot control national security. It is a testament to this government's understanding that the first priority of a government is national security and it is the fact that we have strong border protection policies. (Time expired)