Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:14 pm
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Last week the minister was asked whether the government had paid criminal people smugglers to transport asylum seekers on leaky boats. The minister said: no. Minister, was that true?
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I thank the shadow minister for her question for we know that this question is motivated by a desire to discredit Operation Sovereign Borders. This is all about preparing the ground for Labor's policy on asylum seekers, which will be to dismantle Operation Sovereign Borders. And we know what is going to happen because we have seen it before—50,000 people arrived by boat, $11 billion in cost blow-outs, 1,200 people that we know of died at sea under their watch.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question contained no argument. The minister is required to be directly relevant to the question not to give us a stream of consciousness.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The question requires me to go to matters of intelligence, security and operations. I would like to read a quote:
The robust principle of all prime ministers and foreign ministers, past and present, is that we don't comment on intelligence matters.
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Opposition members interjecting—
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The next one:
I won't comment on matters of intelligence and security for the obvious reason: we don't want to share with the world and potential aggressors what we know about what they might be doing, and how they might be doing it.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr.
Mr Perrett interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Moreton has been warned and will leave under 94(a).
The member for Moreton then left the chamber.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
A question was asked:
Are you aware of any advice from the Australian Federal Police, or any other agency, that the Labor Government's policies on border protection and refugees could lead to a surge in arrivals?
Quote:
Well, I've said before publicly, I don't comment on intelligence matters of this nature.
Former foreign minister Stephen Smith.
Opposition members interjecting—
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
From August 2012, a spokesman for immigration minister Chris Bowen said the minister would not comment on immigration department operational matters. And then, 'I'm not going to comment on operational matters'—former Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. I can inform the House I will not comment on intelligence, security or operational matters.