Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

The only reason we have been able to stop the boats, and for so long now, is that we have stood firm and implemented strong border protection policies. When those on the other side were saying you could not turn the boats around, what did we do? We did exactly that, despite the fact that they fought us every step of the way. We introduced temporary protection visas, again something that Labor and the Greens fought tooth and nail against. It is very, very obvious, given, in particular, what we have seen today, that if those opposite ever form government again this is what will happen, as it did before: 50,000 people arrived on in excess of 800 boats. There were 1,200 deaths at sea, that we know of—

Senator Cameron interjecting—