Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will withdraw. But there is the despicable behaviour that has occurred, where he said, 'We've got to keep open the option of shutting down access to our country,' denying Australian citizens the right to return to their own nation. The member for Fraser and the member for Macnamara applauded it every step of the way because they don't care about returning Australians, which is why they run interference. It is disgraceful for an Australian politician to even discuss the option of denying citizens their right of return—their right to enter their own country. It is one of the most despicable political acts I have ever heard of. It is completely contrary to what this government has been focussed on doing. What we've seen is more and more Australians trying to get home, and the response from the Victorian Premier is to tell them that they are not welcome in their own country.

We make no apology for standing up and making the case for making sure Australians can come home. We make no apology for saying that we have to be part of the solution, working with the states. But we will not be lectured to by the opposition—including members who used to be part of the government that is betraying the people of Australia—saying they are not welcome in their own country. The member for Macnamara should know better because he's a former adviser to the Premier, calling him out and saying his conduct is disgraceful. We're on the side of Australians, we're on the side of them coming home, and we're going to keep doing that so that Australians can enter their country.

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