Sovereignty, integrity and sustainability

The Coalition has a strong record on immigration. When last in government, the Coalition maintained the integrity of our borders and took an active role in increasing skilled migration to Australia as a means to building growth and prosperity for the entire nation.

In Government, Labor has dismantled the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition and started rolling back our hard won progress on getting the balance right in our immigration programme.

Under Labor, people smugglers now decide who comes to our country.

Labor has created a highway on the sea to Christmas Island, with boats arriving illegally at will. These dangerous voyages not only put at risk the lives of every person who sets foot on these boats, but also our defence force personnel and customs officers who go to rescue them.

Christmas Island has become a visa factory for people smugglers under Labor. Every permanent visa offered by Labor to those who have arrived illegally by boat is one less offered to someone waiting overseas for their turn to come to Australia under our humanitarian programme. Christmas Island is now a destination, not a deterrent.

The Coalition’s record on border protection is clear - we stopped the boats. Only the Coalition has the resolve to do what is necessary to ensure Australia once again controls her borders.

Labor has also cut the skills component of our annual immigration intake. In contrast, the Coalition remains committed to increasing the share of skilled migration, which attracts migrants who are able to immediately make a contribution to our long term growth.

While immigration has been a key reason for our current prosperity, we cannot just assume this will be true in the future without good management or careful policy planning. That is why the Coalition believes we must have a sustainable population policy.

Please visit this page for regular updates on the work I am doing to hold the Government to account and build Coalition policy in these crucial areas.

30 July 2010

Media Release : Gillard arrives at people smuggling front line but won't stop the boats

The Coalition has challenged Julia Gillard to use her visit to Western Australia, following Labor's 150th illegal boat arrival, to acknowledge Labor's 150 policy failures and announce...

View

29 July 2010

Media Release : People smugglers 150 not out under Labor

People smugglers have reached another milestone under Labor’s failed border protection policies, 150 boat arrivals not out, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison...

View

28 July 2010

Media Release : Gillard's never never East Timor 'solution' descends further into farce

A statement from the East Timorese Foreign Minister today that he is still waiting for details on Julia Gillard’s so-called ‘East Timor solution’ reveals the extent of farce Julia ...

View

27 July 2010

Media Release : Transcript - Doorstop interview Brisbane

Subjects: Coalition talks with Nauru Government and Opposition, Nauru Government and Opposition’s willingness to enter negotiations for reopening of offshore processing facility...

View

27 July 2010

Media Release : Labor spin on pull factors shows Gillard can't be trusted on boats

Reports today that advice was provided to the Labor Government that their high approval rates for asylum seekers arriving illegally by boat were acting as a ‘major pull factor’ show...

View