George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I thought the opposition would regard border protection as a serious issue—apparently not. Thank you very much indeed, Senator Reynolds; that is a very important question. And the simple answer to your question is this: because we cannot send confused signals to people smugglers.

Until now, the Australian Labor Party has been prepared to extend bipartisanship. In the case of many of them it has been with great reluctance, I know, but, nevertheless, hitherto the Australian Labor Party has been prepared to—