Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Shorten, was quoted in the Guardian as saying, "We don't believe that mandatory detention has the necessary result of stopping the boats";

(b) also notes that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Ms Plibersek, said that detainees on Manus Island "should not be there, nor should the people on Nauru";

(c) further notes that the Member for Grayndler, Mr Albanese, voted at the last ALP National Conference to oppose asylum seeker boat turn-backs, and in May this year told ABC radio "You can be tough on people smugglers without being weak on humanity";

(d) in addition, notes that the Member for Batman, Ms Kearney, said in her maiden speech on 21 May that "we must, as a priority, move the asylum seekers off Manus and Nauru";

(e) furthermore notes that the Member for Barton, Ms Burney, told Sky News on 23 May 2018, "I think there needs to be some sort of time limit" on offshore detention; and

(f) calls upon the Australian Labor Party to make clear to the Australian public – and particularly the voters of Perth, Fremantle, Mayo, Longman and Braddon – whether it supports the federal government's border protection policies.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor's policy on asylum seekers is clear. We will never let the people smugglers back in business. Labor believes in strong borders, offshore processing, regional resettlement and turnbacks when safe to do so, because we know it saves lives at sea. Every time people like Senator Bernardi or the Minister for Home Affairs lie about Labor's strong position on border protection, they are encouraging the people smugglers to restart their vile trade.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chisholm, please resume your seat. Senator Bernardi on a point of order?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think it is unparliamentary to suggest that either a senator or a minister is lying.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That, in my view, is correct. It would be helpful if you would withdraw the personal imputation, Senator Chisholm.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's inconsistent with the facts!

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Certain words are unparliamentary. I would ask you to withdraw the personal imputation.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Chisholm has withdrawn. Please continue.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The mistruths from those opposite, including Senator Bernardi, continue. Manus Island and Nauru were set up as regional transit processing facilities but have become places of indefinite detention because of the failure of the Turnbull government to negotiate other third party resettlement options. Labor strongly supports the US refugee resettlement agreement and has called on the Turnbull government to work with the US to expedite the resettlement process. Labor has also called on the Turnbull government to accept New Zealand's offer to resettle refugees from Manus and Nauru, and to negotiate conditions similar to the US refugee arrangement.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In response to what Senator Chisholm suggested, for the benefit of the people at home I say that this motion merely quotes from senior Labor figures where they're contradicting other public statements. I've sought for them to clarify what their position is in regard to border protection policies, because what the Labor leader, the Labor leadership hopeful, the Labor deputy leader and so forth say are not consistent with the facts that Labor are stating in this chamber today.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 854 be agreed to.