Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I too rise to speak on the Migration Amendment (Bridging Visa Conditions) Bill 2023. Let's just put into perspective what the Senate is currently looking at today. I want to quote from the editor-in-chief of the West Australian newspaper in his opinion piece today. Murderers, child rapists, contract killers and DV thugs. Listening to the contribution of others in the chamber, you might think we were talking about innocent lambs, but let us be very clear: we are not. These are people who have been convicted of raping young children. In fact, the plaintiff in this case, let's be very clear for anyone who is having any doubt, was convicted of raping a 10-year-old boy. That is a despicable, disgusting crime, quite frankly, goes without saying, and anyone who would stand in this chamber and argue that those people have rights, I think, should hang their heads in shame.

These are people who have committed murder. These are people who have committed serious domestic violence offences. These are people who are of the worst character this country has ever seen. On top of that, let us not forget these people are non-citizens of Australia. In other words, they actually have no right to be in this country. Child rapists, murderers, DV thugs and contract killers—so let's put this debate into perspective. There are some of us in this chamber—and I am proud to be proud of the former coalition government and, indeed, the coalition in general, which has always believed and, if we are given the privilege of governing again, let me make it very clear: we will continue to ensure that the fundamental responsibility of the federal government of Australia is the protection of Australia and Australians. And let me be very, very clear that we will never wavier in our commitment to put the Australian people and their security and their defence first. Quite frankly, the shambles that we have seen with this government over the last week clearly show that the Albanese government does not share this basic belief. The way that this legislation has been brought to this chamber demonstrates their inability to execute what is a basic but fundamental responsibility of a federal government and demonstrates their inability to govern Australia. Quite frankly, you have to question whether or not Mr Albanese as the Prime Minister is actually fit for office.

The government would like to tell you they've acted responsibly. The government would like to tell you that they have done everything they can to protect Australia and Australians. Well, that is just wrong, and it is wrong based on the facts of this particular case. Any government that took seriously the protection of Australia and Australians would have listened when, in June of this year, the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the land, through Justice Gleeson, gave a clear indication to the minister for immigration and to the government that it was on shaky ground. The government as of June of this year should have been prepared for this case. I can tell you right now, if Peter Dutton was the Prime Minister of this country, he would have ensured that his government was prepared. He wouldn't have just released 84 detainees out onto the street without actually having an appropriate response. But this government throws its hands up and says: 'Well, we didn't know. We weren't prepared, but we've been scrambling to prepare ever since.' Well, guess what? That is not borne out by the facts.

What is also not borne out by the facts are the comments that the coalition has not been prepared to work with the government. If I recall correctly, it is Peter Dutton, as the Leader of the Opposition and the alternative Prime Minister in this country, who has actually been the person out there every day saying the government needs to bring on legislation to clean up what is now a mess—not the government; it is Peter Dutton who has been out there every day saying that.

So we end up here today, and guess what? Senator Wong came in and accused us of playing politics. Well, Senator Wong, we asked for the bill and the explanatory memorandum to be presented to us last night. Senator James Paterson, Mr Dan Tehan, Mr Peter Dutton and myself would have sat here till midnight or three am; we wouldn't have gone to bed so that we could properly analyse your legislation and make sure the legislation that you are bringing forward is fit for purpose. But guess what? The government didn't give us that courtesy. Instead, we were told that we could have a briefing at 7.15 this morning, and that was the first time that the Leader of the Opposition, the shadow minister for immigration, the shadow minister for home affair and myself were shown the legislation.

A quick glance in that briefing showed me the legislation is fundamentally flawed. The legislation itself is not fit for purpose. Why do I say that? Because clearly you scrambled to draft it. Really, you're obviously too scared to put in place the measures that will appropriately protect the Australian people. The legislation, as Peter Dutton has said in the other place this morning, is completely inadequate. And, frankly, it looks like it was literally thrown together at the last minute.