Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. How does the minister reconcile his claim that the government is cracking down on the abuse of skilled migration with the fact that the budget to police immigration abuses has been cut by 14 per cent since this government was elected and will be cut by a further 18 per cent this year? Why has the government cut the funding needed to enforce our immigration laws?

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. As I say, this is a very important area and it is very important that we have a public debate on it. As I have been advised by the department—and that advice was affirmed by the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration—we need to attend to the rorts. Quite simply, you either support the reforms or you support the rorts.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Cook has asked his question.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Madam Speaker, of specific relevance, I asked the minister why the funding had been cut. Why has the funding been cut to police immigration?

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cook will resume his seat. The minister has the call.

Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we have needed to do, as I have said, is to make sure we have enforceable provisions. The problems with some of the arrangements is that they are not enforceable and I have made very clear already—well before today—that we would be looking at the ways in which those provisions will be enforced. I have said that we will be looking at that. If the member for Cook actually followed some of the commentary, he would know that I have made it very clear that not only are we going to bring about the reforms but also we are going to put in place the measures to ensure that those provisions are enforced.

Mr Christensen interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dawson is warned. Given the level of noise, it was difficult to hear if an answer was actually being given. Is the member for Cook seeking to table a document?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am, Madam Speaker. Given the minister seems to be unaware of the cuts in his own budget, I seek leave to table the cuts to program 4.1.1.

Leave not granted.