Media Release

People smugglers 150 not out under Labor

Thursday 29th July 2010

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 and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said today.

“The arrival of 150 boats with over 7,100 people on board is a shameful record from a Labor Government that has lost control of our borders and doesn’t believe in a solution,” Mr Morrison said.

“Julia Gillard has insulted Australians by tying to spin them a never never election fix of a processing centre on East Timor that the East Timorese don’t want,” he said.

“East Timorese Foreign Minister da Costa’s comments yesterday that his government was still without even basic details on Labor’s never never processing centre shows that when it comes to border protection Labor is all spin and no substance.

“Hoping to wing their way through an election campaign to dupe Australians into believing in their fairytale processing centre is an offence to voters.

“The fact that this latest boat was yet another in distress also highlights the inherent danger of policies that encourage people smugglers to cram people aboard leaky boats for the trip to Australia.

“In stark contrast to Labor’s empty rhetoric, this week the Coalition met with senior figures of the Nauru Government who are willing to reopen the detention centre on the island nation that was paid for by Australian taxpayers.

“If Julia Gillard was serious about stopping the boats she would pick up the phone immediately to speak with the President of Nauru Marcus Stephen and get the processing centre open again.

“Julia Gillard won’t do this because she doesn’t believe illegal boat arrivals are a problem that needs a real solution. There is only one message we can send people smugglers and that is the election of a Coalition Government,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Keenan said: “Labor’s record on border protection speaks for itself. This government has presided over an unprecedented number of boats in our waters but they have no real solution to stop them.

“They have slashed jobs and funding from the Customs and Border Protection Service and crippled our working relationship with neighbouring countries. They have failed to keep our country secure.

“At this election the Australian people will have an opportunity to restore strength to our borders by changing government.

“Only a Coalition Government has the resolve and the policies necessary to stop the boats,” he said.