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

As I said in response to the primary question, our government will not be distracted by the passage of this bill from our absolute resolve to keep our borders secure and to keep our strong border protection framework in place to the best possible ability in the light of the passage of this bill. As I was indicating in relation to the implementation of those laws passed through the Senate earlier today, the Prime Minister has asked the Department of Home Affairs for an implementation report. We will await that report before making further decisions as required as more information about the impact on the ground, overseas and on the seas becomes available.

Our job now is to ensure that the boats don't come. Our job as a government is to do everything we can to ensure that what the parliament has done to weaken our borders does not result in boats coming back to Australia. Our government continues to be responsible for protecting our borders and for protecting the safety and security of Australians. Australians now know they can't trust Bill Shorten with the security of our borders.