Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

I am disappointed to say so—but yes, I can. They were recently on display at the Labor Party's national conference where, yet again, we saw the Labor Left pitted against the Labor Right in relation to border protection policy. They, allegedly, have adopted the option of turnbacks. However, the Australian people know that Labor have been there before. In the lead-up to the 2007 election, what did Kevin Rudd promise the Australian people if he were elected to govern? That he would adopt the policy of turnbacks. Then once Mr Rudd was elected to govern, do we recall how many boats the Labor government turned back, given that their policy was to turn them back? The big zero.

Senator Abetz interjecting—

That is right, Senator Abetz—the big zero. And we can rest assured and we know that if Labor are ever elected to govern again—and Senator Wong is the perfect example of someone who could not even cast her own vote in relation to turnbacks, as she sent a proxy in to vote against it—we will return to the— (Time expired)