Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

It is a fact that when we left office there was a handful of people in detention. But there is a very clear policy choice now as we move towards the next election. Do you want a government that will always put the sovereignty of its borders first, or do you want the absolute chaos that ensued when the Australian Greens supported the policies of the former Australian Labor government? And Senator McKim, let me just remind you what occurred: 50,000 people arrived here on in excess of 800 boats. But when you talk about children in detention, it is about time you stood up and at least prefaced the question that you are going to ask with, 'I accept responsibility on behalf of the Australian Greens for policies that put in excess of 8,000 children into detention.' It is those of us on this side of the chamber who have ensured—Senator McKim, you may have forgotten this—the diligent, hard work of putting in place policies that work and that reduced the number of children held in detention in April 2016 to zero.

The PRESIDENT: Senator McKim, a supplementary question.