Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor won't be supporting this motion. We believe in strong borders, offshore processing, regional resettlement and boat turnbacks when it's safe to do so, because we know it saves lives at sea. The Turnbull government are in their fifth year of government and have been completely and utterly incompetent at managing Australia's offshore processing centres. Australia has a moral obligation to ensure the men on Manus Island have access to essential services such as security, health and welfare services, which is why the men at the now closed RPC should immediately relocate to alternative accommodation. The stand-off at the now closed Manus Island RPC could have been avoided if the Prime Minister had been clear from the start about refugees' access to essential services and had guaranteed their ongoing safety and security.

Labor will never let people smugglers back in business, and that is why Australia is not and must not be a resettlement option. The Prime Minister must immediately secure other third-country resettlement options with appropriate conditions for eligible refugees.

Question negatived.