Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The general policy area was asked about in the last few words of the question, so I am making my answer directly relevant to that. On the general policy area of unauthorised arrivals, the member who asked the question would have in the past heard me talk about the opposition’s three-word slogan. Well, actually, there has been an overnight development. They used to have a three-word slogan of ‘Stop the boats.’ Overnight, as a result of statements by the shadow minister for immigration, their new slogan is: ‘Lay out the welcome mat for 3,750 asylum seekers.’ That is what the opposition now stands for in this debate. That is what they want to send as a message to people smugglers. The first 3,750 are fine. Well, on this side of the House we are not laying out the welcome mat the way the shadow minister wants to with his new policy—

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