George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Well, it is certainly not the practice of any political party in this country, or at least any governing party, on this side of the chamber or the other, to bring into the Senate and to table documents relating to the national security of Australia. You should know that, as the leader of a political party, Senator Di Natale. But notwithstanding that, I can advise you of some facts you seem to have forgotten: that during the period of the Labor government, as a result of policies you supported, more than 1,100 men, women and children drowned at sea—as a direct result of policies that you supported. But since the Abbott government was elected, not one life has been lost. As a result of the policies you supported, 50,000 people made a mortal passage to Australia, and since the Abbott government has been elected, the boats have been stopped. The boats have been stopped, the smugglers are out of business, and the lives are no longer being lost.(Time expired)