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

I know the facts do not suit the opposition in this debate, but let's deal with the facts. The former minister for immigration in the Howard government, Mr Ruddock, interjected before, and I respond to that interjection: I am talking about expert advice from the same people whose advice he relied on when he was minister. The advice that they are providing is very clear: they expect the deterrence effect of Malaysia to be so strong that we will not reach the 800.

Can I say to the member who asked the question: when he consults with the Leader of the Opposition and gets the fact that he got that advice from the experts—the same experts who advised the Howard government—he may also ask the Leader of the Opposition what plan B is when Nauru is full, if that is what he believes is the right policy.

At the end of the day, this debate about the Malaysia arrangement and Nauru is not the debate that will come before the parliament. If the member genuinely believes that Nauru is the best solution, the best policy for refugees and asylum seekers, then he should come into this parliament and vote for the government's legislation, because it would give a future government—

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