Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Last Tuesday, the minister was asked whether the government had paid criminal people smugglers to transport asylum seekers on leaky boats. The minister replied 'no'. Minister, was that accurate?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. It has been 335 days since has he asked a question. So I say 'well done'.

Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is this you, mate? Is that you?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gellibrand will leave under 94(a).

The member for Gellibrand then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Incidentally, it is over 300 days now since there has been a successful people-smuggling venture, but I will come to that in a moment. As we have made very clear, we do not comment in relation to operational matters. When it comes to Operation Sovereign Borders, we remain absolutely determined to make sure that the boats remain stopped.

I thought I would have a look at the issues of consistency and what people have had to say. I thought I would have a look at the record of those opposite when they were in government and at the ministers for immigration and my own record. I think it is an interesting comparison. In terms of boat arrivals, let us look at the member for McMahon—the shadow Treasurer who wants be Treasurer of this country. He was the Minister for Immigration in the Rudd and Gillard governments. There were 398 boat arrivals; on my watch not one. Twenty-five thousand people arrived when that man was the Minister for Immigration.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The minister has not even attempted to be relevant to the question he has been asked, and I would ask that you direct that he be relevant.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. The minister has the call.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We can go through them: the member for Watson, Mr Burke—83 boats arrived on his watch; 6,600 people arrived. If you go to the member for Watson, one of my favourites, 6,600 people arrived on boats during his period. I come to the member for Gorton: 12,800 people on his watch; indeed 52,000 people arrived by boat when Labor were in power.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order under standing order 91. The minister is now flouting the standing orders. He is not—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. There is no point of order. The minister has the call.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We can go through their record, and I am happy to go through it all through question time today. I am more than happy to do that. But let me say this: this government had the guts to stop the boats.

Ms Claydon interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Newcastle will leave under 94(a).

The member for Newcastle then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We cleaned up Labor's mess and, if Labor is re-elected at the next election, let me make this prediction: Bill Shorten will be the weakest prime minister, when it comes to national security, in this nation's history.