Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Australia is a great migrant nation. We have welcomed generations and generations of migrants from all corners of the world. Indeed, we have welcomed to Australia many, many thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from all around the world. But, as John Howard quite rightly pointed out, we decide who comes to this country and the circumstance in which they come. In our system, the Australian people give expression to their wishes at an election. It is up to the elected government of Australia to determine how our borders are managed. There should not be any suggestion whatsoever that this is a responsibility that should be contracted out. It is absolutely unbelievable to us on this side of the chamber that, after Labor's disastrous track record on this, they would go back there and try to fiddle with this when their last attempt to fiddle with this had such disastrous consequences. The Australian people will condemn them for it.