Bert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the importance of Australia's strong and consistent border protection policies? Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Forde very much for his question. Like all of my colleagues on this side, we are absolutely determined to make sure that we stare down people smugglers, because we do not want to see women and children drowning at sea. We do not want to see the people smugglers back in control of who comes to this country. When John Howard left office in 2007, there were four people, which included no children, in detention. When Mr Rudd, as Prime Minister, undid those policies that had stopped the people smugglers and put them out of business, thousands of people arrived. Indeed, 50,000 on 800 boats came on Labor's watch, and 1,200 people tragically drowned at sea. Labor has since apologised for that mess, but they have not learnt their lesson—even today they claim that, as a party, they have not got the act together. As I look opposite, there are still many people who are completely opposed to Mr Shorten and to the Labor Party policy, which they say somehow would continue the success of this government's policy on border protection.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just remind the minister to refer to members by their correct titles.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, Mr Speaker. The difficulty for Labor and for this weak Leader of the Opposition is that there are many people in his own ranks who are completely opposed to any policy which will keep our borders secure. There are three ways in which we have implemented success in this area of public policy. Firstly, we have turned back boats where it is safe to do so. Secondly, we have maintained temporary protection visas, and, thirdly, we have operated regional processing centres. These, absolutely, are the three deterrents that have stared down the threat of people smugglers. The new member for Braddon has proclaimed on social media that she is 'with Albo' in opposing boat turn-backs.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will refer to members by their correct—

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a direct quote, Mr Speaker.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the minister is quoting, that is permissible.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The new member for Macquarie says she voted against turn-backs at the ALP conference and stated—

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right will cease interjecting. The Deputy Prime Minister will cease interjecting. The Leader of the House is interjecting while I am addressing the House, again. The Deputy Prime Minister looks like he is about to interject again, so he will not. The Manager of Opposition Business has the call on a point of order.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If it is in order to use words because they are quotes from Twitter, there is a lot, an extraordinary amount, that can be said about the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. That cannot be a reason that it is in order.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It would be helpful, as I have said to the minister and to everyone, to refer to members by their correct titles. It is much easier. Otherwise, you risk offending the chair unintentionally.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are many other examples that we could use here, but the point is that people smugglers can smell a weak Labor leader miles away. They picked it in Kevin Rudd, they picked it in Julia Gillard and they see it every day in this bloke. If you cannot secure our borders, you cannot look the Australian people in the eye and say that you can provide security in this country. The problem at the last election was that Labor could not get their act together. They have not changed their ways since the Rudd and Gillard years—

Mr Perrett interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton is warned.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and all it has demonstrated is that this weak Leader of the Opposition remains a threat to the national security of this country.