Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for the Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the minister advise the Senate what the government has done to regain control of Australia's borders and restore integrity into our migration program?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Eggleston for his question. Given that it is the first question time for the new parliament, I am pleased to advise the Senate that under the Abbott government there has now been a period of 50 days in which there has been no successful people-smuggling venture to Australia by boat.

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I could just repeat that for the benefit of those on the other side to hear me—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Cash, you are entitled to be heard in silence on both sides.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I could just repeat that for the benefit of the Senate: there has been no successful people-smuggling venture to Australia by boat for 50 days now. One can only ask: when was the last time such a statement was able to be made? Because it clearly was not made under the government or the governments—three of them, in fact—that preceded this one. This government went to the federal election last year with a very clear commitment to the Australian people. The commitment was that, if we were elected to govern, on assuming office we would introduce a strong suite of border protection policies—and that is exactly what this government has done. Despite the protestations of those opposite, despite the efforts of those opposite, despite the former government teaming up yet again with its alliance partner in the Greens to do everything in their power to stop this government from fulfilling its commitment to the Australian people, they have failed to deter us. This government is resolute in its commitment to the Australian people, and that resolution is shown by the policies that we have introduced. The fact is that, despite the actions of those opposite, we continue to stop the boats. (Time expired)

Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister inform the Senate what the subsequent effect on illegal boat arrivals has been?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Eggleston for his supplementary question. The effect of the policies that this government has introduced has been to do exactly what we said we would do at the federal election in 2013, and that was to do what three previous Labor governments had failed to do: stop the boats. In January of this year alone, there have been no boat arrivals in Australia. Compare that to January 2013: 14 boats, 798 people; 2012: five boats, 301 people; January 2011: three boats, 218 people; January 2010: 11 boats, 615 people. The subsequent effect of our policies is that they are working. (Time expired)

Alan Eggleston (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a second supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate of any threats to the continued success of the government's border protection policies?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The most serious threat we had was borne out approximately two weeks ago with the performance of Senator Hanson-Young in a public interest immunity inquiry held by the legal and constitutional affairs committee. Senator Hanson-Young based a line of questioning to the CEO of Customs and Border Protection on the fact that she actually believed that the Channel Nine show Sea Patrol

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: I recognise that the senator has been given a Dorothy Dixer by someone on her own side. If you cannot even remain relevant to that, I would ask you to cease wasting the Senate's time.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a clear threat to border protection when you have the shadow spokesperson for border protection, in Senator Hanson-Young, basing a very, very serious line of questioning—

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order: the minister is deliberately misrepresenting Senator Hanson-Young. That suggestion did not come from Senator Hanson-Young.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a debating point, not a point of order. That is something that can be taken up after question time in taking note of answers.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am more than happy to forward the YouTube video to the Leader of the Australian Greens—that is, of course, unless Senator Wright, who was chairing the committee, has not yet shared it with her. You may want to compare the YouTube video to what now apparently appears in Hansard, because I am informed there may be a slightly different reflection— (Time expired)