Which member of the Labor frontbench said on 23 April 2003 that: “Another boat on the way, another policy failure”? If you guessed Julia Gillard then you would be right.
Gillard was the Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration under Simon Crean – another of her press releases (22 April 2003) had the headline “Boat proves Government has no solutions”.
Labor has failed its own test. Labor’s 100 boats equals 100 policy failures. Labor does not have a solution for the influx of asylum seekers and has so far spent $1 billion on its failures.
The graph above shows the extent of Labor’s failure.
It also shows the Howard Government’s success in addressing this problem, introducing various measures, including Temporary Protection Visas, to manage the influx of asylum seekers and deter others from attempting this unsafe journey or using people smugglers.
Additionally, Labor is so desperate to manage the skyrocketing number of arrivals at Christmas Island that they are transferring people to the mainland, despite their commitments not to do so.
The Liberal Party has a track record and solution where Labor does not.If elected, a Liberal Government will reintroduce Temporary Protection Visas and will continue a “no compromise” policy of off-shore processing.
Labor is trying to ‘spin’ the boats away – Labor claims it has nothing to do with Labor’s weakening of border protection policies or the special deal Kevin Rudd struck with the passengers on the Oceanic Viking.Yet again, Labor is never responsible, only the victim of other circumstances.
But even the United Nations High Commission on Refugees has confirmed that Kevin Rudd’s special deal with the passengers on the Oceanic Viking has increased the attractiveness of Australia to unlawful entrants and people smugglers.
The Australian people overwhelmingly support efforts to stop people smugglers and unlawful movement into Australia. Yet we are also proud of our record of providing refuge and a new home for thousands. These two views are entirely consistent.