Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

Well, the Morrison government will never apologise for protecting Australia's borders and for restoring integrity to our borders. We will never apologise for that.

In relation to the report that you referred to, Senator McKim, you would be aware that the home affairs department has responded to it and has agreed with nine of the commission's recommendations. But what you also failed to advise the Senate of was that the commission, importantly, noted and acknowledged the reduction in the number of children in detention, which peaked at almost 2,000 under those opposite. And this is what Senator McKim also failed to tell the Senate: that overall we've reduced the number of people in detention by 85 per cent, from more than 10,000 under his alliance to just 1,500 now; and that more than 70 per cent of those in detention centres have a criminal record.