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

Yes; because it will send a clear message to illegal maritime arrivals in regional processing countries that they will never settle permanently in Australia—no matter what advocates or others may tell them—and, indeed, may never come to Australia at any time in the future. It is necessary to introduce this legislation now, so those in regional processing countries engage with the governments of Nauru and Papua New Guinea to take up the return and resettlement packages available to them. Notwithstanding the acknowledged success of Operation Sovereign Borders, people smugglers will continue to take advantage of vulnerable people, to try to convince them to get on boats for Australia and risk their lives at sea. This bill will further undercut the people smugglers' business model, and it will communicate to the 14,000 waiting in Indonesia that they can never come to Australia. (Time expired)