Peter Andren (Calare, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, as the minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Minister, given the Prime Minister’s reported comments yesterday, that the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 delivers a ‘consistent message in relation to people who seek to come to Australia unlawfully’, how is a policy that removes to Nauru or Manus Island people seeking refuge in Australia as the country of first asylum consistent with the removal of asylum seekers reaching Australia as the country of second or third asylum, which was largely the basis of the government’s justification of the so-called Pacific solution policy?

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I am often asked about immigration issues because of my previous role. One of the points I make when I speak to people is that good immigration policy is the fundamental role for a minister for immigration. That is implemented through policies that give effect to our need for people with appropriate skills and our need to respond to genuine and close family reunion, coupled with a generous response to the most vulnerable refugees.

That is a policy that the Australian government has implemented over a long time and continues to implement. You can only implement a policy of that type if you are able to effectively manage your borders. You cannot implement good immigration policy without effective border management. The measures that we have announced are consistent with our international obligations and will be administered consistently with those obligations. They will send a very firm message to those people who seek to come to Australia that there is a proper way of doing so, and that is the one they ought to take.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.