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

I am answering a question very broadly worded about safety and, in answering that very broadly worded question, let me give this answer. What this government will do is continue to be clear with people about the facts and the policy choices. We will listen to expert advice.

Mrs Mirabella interjecting—

The member for Indi might think that advice provided by the former Chief of the Defence Force is worth laughing at. We treat people who have served our Defence Force at the highest level with respect. We treat people with the foreign policy expertise of Michael L'Estrange with respect. We treat a man, like Paris Aristotle, who has devoted his life to working with refugees with respect. We of course are out there implementing the policies that have been recommended by those experts while, on the one hand, the opposition come into this parliament and try to raise fear and then, on the other hand, whenever they are called to do so come into this parliament and put up their hands for more votes, which is what the Leader of the Opposition has done time after time in denying the force and effect of the expert panel.

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