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

In conclusion, I say to the member who asked the question and to all members of this parliament that the way in which they exercise their vote on the amendments to the Migration Act should be in the national interest.

Opposition members interjecting—

I know discussion of the national interest enlivens interjections from the opposition. Perhaps they should save their energy from interjection and think what the national interest is. It is in the national interest that governments make appropriate arrangements for offshore processing. To the member who asked the question: I acknowledge that he probably very seriously believes that there should be a policy about an offshore processing centre on Nauru, but he should vote for legislation to enable that and enable the government to implement its offshore processing plan. That is in the national interest. This cheap politics is not.

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