Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

If this is not a decisive change in the direction of this government, clearly you have it in the words of your own public servants, who are clearly answering my questions and the questions of Senator Ellison: yes, they are changing and they are changing their position decisively. Of course, the minister was desperately trying to say at estimates that it has not really changed, but the reality is that those opposite have changed it. Once identity, health and character checks are undertaken, people will potentially be put out into the community whilst their visas are being processed. This is the clear message that the people smugglers are getting, because they know, and they are probably telling their clients, ‘Look, you’ll spend a little bit of time in detention but, after that, you will be out in the community.’ One only has to look at the experiences around the world to see that once illegals go out into the community it is always a very difficult situation for them to meet their immigration obligations.

It is all very well to talk tough, but the proof is in what you are actually doing. Senator Farrell, what the Australian people want to hear from you is that you have not changed your position and you are still tough. But you are walking both sides of the fence, and you have to be truthful with the Australian public.