Scott Morrison : All Content Updates

Media Release : Transcript -2GB Drive Program - Illegal boat arrivals

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: illegal boat arrivals, Coalition immigration and border protection policy

JASON MORRISON: Another day, another boat shows up in northern Australian waters. HMAS Armidale, that should be doing things that are better than being a tug boat for illegal vesels, refugee boats, people smuggler boats, HMAS Armidale has to go through the kind of what must be dehumanising process for these people and go and hook up and tow another one into Chrismas Island. So that is 21 this year. First week or so of March - 21 they are on target for probably 100 this year which is something we haven’t seen certainly in close to ten years and it is a level of this problem that our Prime Minister continues to live in lala land about. Today he had the had the opportunity to stare down the man at the other end of the problem, the Indonesian President, and tell him that we ought to, these two countries, sort this. Australia should put our wall up higher and the Indonesian President should be throwing everything he has got to kill of the people smuggling operation and then we can start dealing with the humanitarian crisis as opposed to the criminal activity that is going on to bring these poor people out into the middle of nowhere and take advantage of our soft policy. But instead Prime Minister, when in doubt, reaches for the cliches and the bureacratic speak -

KEVIN RUDD: “Our officials yesterday signed an implementation framework on people smuggling and trafficking in persons. This will enhance and intensify our cooperation of dealing with this complex regioanl and global challenge”.

JASON MORRISON: We should give out money to anyone who understands what that’s about. Let’s bring in Shadow Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison, who agrees that we should return the policy to where it is and believes we should be doing something at the other end as well. Good afternoon.

SCOTT MORRISON: G’day Jason, that is absolutely right.

JASON MORRISON: Why is this so hard? The Indonesian President would understand exactly our problem.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well he does, and to be fair to the Indonesian President, today he announced he would be introducing criminal laws for people smuggling in Indonesia and I welcome that and think that is a good idea. As Tony Abbott said today, we worked with Indonesia in the past as we did in Government last time and brought the boats to zero. We were able to return boats with their understanding and working together. We did a lot of good work together but only one partner can’t turn up to the party, both do. The Rudd Government had an opportunity this week to say to the Indonesian President that we are going to reverse the things that we have done which have created this problem, we are going to do our share to ensure we are not contributing to the problem but he didn’t do any of that. He announced whatever that was he announced yesterday and what the people smugglers took out of it all was let’s send another boat.

JASON MORRISON: Another one come, another one comes. Twenty one so we are not even a third of the year and we are at this level. Let’s put this on the table, put your neck out on this. If you retuned the policy, suddenly you were the Minister and you return the policy to where it was, how many boats would be coming?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, that is the sixty four thousand dollar question Jason. The first thing we would have to do is establish our resolve in the area and that would mean some important decisions around returning to temporary visas. It would mean putting a no compromise position back in on off-shore processing. We believe as we speak today the Government is preparing to transfer people from Christmas Island to Darwin, to Berrimah, before their claims are tested. This could happen as early as this weekend in the order of one hundred.

JASON MORRISON: … because it is full.

SCOTT MORRISON: …because it is full and that means when we were in government no one was processed who arrived illegally by boat after the reforms we introduced after the Tampa, on-shore. It was all done off-shore. Now what is happening with this government, they have rolled back a lot of things, probably the most important, the fact that you don’t set one foot on the Australian mainland, if you come illegally by boat, until your claims have been tested – that is about to go out the window.

JASON MORRISON: Forty six more today plus crew, so you have the numbers in front of you. What are we up to since the policy was softened?

SCOTT MORRISON: 4,100 and there has been 1,100 just this year, but the thing that really worries me is how this is escalating. Last year we had 61 boats arrive and we had, on average, about 217 people turning up a month. This year, including today’s boat, there is an average of 485 people turning up a month and that is the highest we have ever had. The eclipses what was happening back in 1999, 2000 and 2001. We have got more people showing up and more boats showing up and asylum applications around the world today are 40% lower than what they were when John Howard was confronting this problem ten years ago.

JASON MORRISON: Ok. I can accept a little of the argument that’s floated around by Labor and some of the other parties, the left parties that are out there telling us we have to be a little different because times have changed. I can accept that, so I am trying to draw on your expertise on this and your understanding of it, which is saying what? We would have half as many boats if you do it? Help us realise why we should have this policy changed. I understand, numerically, and this is, every one of these people who comes here costs us a fortune.

SCOTT MORRISON: About $80,000 on average is the best we can determine, for everyone who turns up on Christmas Island.

JASON MORRISON: Each?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yep. That’s a conservative estimate, it could be well higher than that. But if we go back to what happened in 2001, in 2001 the Tampa showed up and John Howard sent probably the strongest signal you can imagine and the circumstances allowed him to do that. We then excised places like Christmas Island, we set up Nauru and Manus and we did all processing off shore. We went from an average of 460 people a month back then to less than one person a month the following year. Now, that’s what happened there. In Italy where Berlusconi has done a deal with the Libyans, I wouldn’t draw too many parallels there, but they have basically taken a situation where they have reduced their arrivals by 90% and Libya is in a similar situation to Indonesia where the African asylum seekers come up through Africa and get in contact with people smugglers in Libya and head across first to Italy as a way to get to Europe. So look, the opportunities for significant reductions are there, they have been achieved before but in many cases it depends on the circumstances. You have got to send a strong message and a strong signal and since we had that fiasco with the Oceanic Viking last year, we have had 41 boats show up, so of the 89 that have turned up since they changed the policy, 41 of those have now come since the Viking debacle.

JASON MORRISON: I am still getting over the $80,000 price tag for each person which is we’re either grossly inefficient or this is just such a mad, make it up as you go program that there is just no hope.

END.

Further Information: Julian Leembruggen 0419 494 667

Media Release : Latest illegal boat arrival shows people smugglers are still in charge

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Today’s interception of the 21st boat to illegally arrive in Australia in 2010 sends a message to the Rudd Government that people smugglers are still firmly in charge, despite his agreement with Indonesia, according to Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan.

“The real test of any agreement with Indonesia on people smuggling is whether it stops the boats. On the same day Kevin Rudd signs a new agreement on people smuggling, another boat arrives,” Mr Morrison said.

“The magnetic impact of Labor’s immigration and border protection laws for illegal arrivals is clearly as strong as ever,” he said.

“Indonesia has always been a willing and cooperative partner in combating people smuggling and illegal arrivals to Australia. The commitment of the Indonesian President to introduce criminal laws for people smugglers is a welcome development.

“The Coalition in Government worked with Indonesia and stopped the boats. As Tony Abbott said today, ‘we did before and can do it again’.

“Mr Rudd should be responding in kind by reversing the policies he has introduced that have led to 89 boats and almost 4100 people illegally arriving in Australia since he rolled back the Coalition’s strong border protection and immigration laws.

“Instead of dealing with the failure of his domestic policies that have weakened our borders, the Rudd Government is implementing plans to begin transferring detainees from Christmas Island to Darwin, before their asylum claims have been assessed, thereby ending universal off shore processing.

“The Coalition believes further transfers are imminent and will only serve to further soften our borders and encourage people smuggling activity, as their clients can now get all the way to the mainland, courtesy of the Rudd Government,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Keenan said: “This latest interception is a timely reminder that people smuggling is out of control under the Labor Government, as Rudd today worked at a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

“Kevin Rudd doesn’t seem to have the ability to distinguish between ongoing discussion of a problem and actually getting something done.

“Today’s interception has highlighted the crippled condition of Australia’s border protection, and the rate at which boats are arriving as Rudd looks overseas to solve the problem instead of acknowledging his government’s policy failures which have caused the problem in the first place.

“The Coalition supports a working relationship with Indonesia in resolving the influx of unauthorised arrivals, however Rudd must fix his own Government’s broken policy first,” he said.

Media Release : Test of people smuggling agreement will be whether it stops the boats

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The success of an any agreement on people smuggling with Indonesia announced by the Rudd Government will be judged on just one criteria – whether it stops the boats, according to Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.

“International and regional cooperation will always be critical in the fight against people smuggling, but it is not a substitute for Kevin Rudd to avoid addressing his own domestic policy failings that have created a viable product for people smugglers to trade,” Mr Morrison said.

“While any agreement on people smuggling is welcome, the test will be whether it stops the boats. This is a judgement Kevin Rudd will be unable to avoid,” he said.

“Since Kevin Rudd started rolling back the Coalition’s strong border protection regime in August 2008, there have been 88 illegal boat arrivals carrying more than 4000 people.

“So far this year there have been 20 illegal boat arrivals carrying more than 1050 people, at a rate of more than 9 per month, 25% higher than the previous highest record in 1999.

“Any real discussion with Indonesia should begin with Kevin Rudd making a commitment to reverse his own policy failings that are acting as a magnet for people smuggling.

“Kevin Rudd must also develop some real resolve on this issue, rather than the phony posturing we typically see as a substitute for real action.

“A key example of action speaking louder than words was when the Rudd Government did their special deal for the 78 passengers on the Oceanic Viking. Since then 40 boats have arrived.

“Instead of blaming everyone else, the Prime Minister should follow the Coalition’s lead and implement policies that will actually stop the boats.

“This will be the true measure of success of any people smuggling agreement with Indonesia,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Rudd Government starts unravelling off shore processing

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The Rudd Government has begun the process of unravelling the Coalition’s off shore processing regime by transferring detainees from an over crowded Christmas Island to Darwin before their asylum claims have been tested, according to the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.

“On Saturday job advertisements were published by Serco, who manage the Government’s detention facility, for new permanent recruits for the Berrimah detention centre in Darwin. Today, there are also reports of local Darwin fire and rescue services being told to familiarise themselves with the facility,” Mr Morrison said.

“Department records show there were less than 50 people at the Berrimah centre at the end of January. The facility is currently used exclusively to detain crews of foreign fishing vessels, before they are either deported or transferred to other locations to face prosecution,” he said.

“The Prime Minister has said he will transfer detainees from Christmas Island to Darwin, before their asylum claims have been tested, and it appears that plan is now being put in motion by stealth.

“The Government should be up front with the Australian people about what they are doing. The decision to transfer detainees to the mainland is an admission that their decision to roll back the Coalition‘s border protection regime has comprehensively failed.

“Today the Prime Minister will meet with Indonesian President Yudhoyono to discuss people smuggling issues. He should begin these talks by acknowledging that his own policies and decisions are the primary cause for the problem.

“Australia cannot lecture Indonesia about people smuggling laws when it is our own policies that have created the product that people smugglers are selling with such success.

“International and regional cooperation is critical to tackling the problem of people smuggling. But international and regional cooperation cannot be used by the Rudd Government as a substitute for dealing with their own domestic policy failures.

“When the Coalition was in Government we had a strong working relationship with the Indonesian Government on people smuggling because we had credibility on the issue. We were doing all in our power to ensure that our own policies and decisions were not contributing to the problem.

“This is not the case with the Rudd Government. Whether it is their border protection roll back or rolling over to do special deals for the passengers on the Oceanic Viking, while leaving the Indonesian Government high and dry over the 250 people still sitting on the boat in Merak, the Rudd Government has failed to demonstrate the strong resolve this issue demands,” Mr Morrison said.

Blog Post : Rudd fails the Tampa test

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Blog Post

Rudd fails the Tampa test

You learn a lot about people when the pressure is on.

Some interesting facts emerged recently about what really happened during those extraordinary four weeks last year when the Oceanic Viking abandoned our Patagonian tooth fish to become home to 78 Tamil asylum seekers.

During these events the debate raged about who knew what and when. Where would they go and on what terms?

The answers to many of these questions came to light during recent questioning in Senate estimates.

Of greatest significance was confirmation that the Prime Minister knew nothing of the special deal done with the Indonesian Government to get the 78 Tamils off the boat. Remember, this was the deal that offered a 12 week guarantee of processing, with settlement to a third country. Most refugees seeking third country re settlement in Indonesia wait five years.

There would be English lessons while they waited and the Australian Government would proceed to spend every diplomatic favour they had to convince other countries to take them on.

The bottom line was that Australia had twelve weeks to get them out of Indonesia and we had to take full responsibility for every last one of them.

The decision to agree to this special deal was taken by the Border Protection Committee of Cabinet chaired by the Minister for Immigration. Representing the Prime Minister on this committee was his National Security Adviser, who we were told that he or his deputy attended every meeting.

This was the ‘bloke’ the Prime Minister referred to in Parliament last year, smugly saying “there is a bloke called the national security adviser...he answers to me”.

All of this turned very sour when a few weeks after they got off the boat, ASIO had given four of the passengers, now official refugees, an adverse security assessment. They had failed the security test.

Normally if someone is given an adverse security clearance by ASIO, that is where their conversation with Australia ends. But not this time. Because of the special deal, they were now our problem, we were bound to take them.

As confirmed by the Department secretary, the 12 week deadline was approaching and we had no option than to take them. As a result the National Security Committee approved a decision to transfer four people with an adverse security finding from Indonesia to Australia in mid December.

Not only had this never occurred before, it had certainly never occurred as a result of a special deal with a foreign government.

Last time something even remotely like this happened was when one of the last detainees on Nauru was transferred to Australia under the special ‘transitory persons’ provision created under the Migration Act. The adverse assessment was revised by ASIO and the individual was then provided a visa.

There can be no doubt that the special deal with Indonesia compromised our national security. We had a basic passenger manifest of the names of who was on board, but they could have said their name was Charlie Brown at that stage of the process. ASIO had been given no access to the individuals until after they had disembarked the vessel.

The Rudd Government basically signed up blind to take responsibility for people they knew nothing about. I’m torn between what is worse. Knowingly taking this blatant security risk, or failing to even think about it. It’s still not clear whether this was a sin of omission or commission.

What is clear is that our Prime Minister, who promised national security would come first, did not want to know anything about it. Not only was he not told, he did not seek to inform himself. He did not even discuss the terms of the special deal with his own National Security Adviser.

I simply can’t imagine John Howard absenting himself from a such key decision. In fact, he didn’t.

While there will be endless debate over the Tampa, John Howard did not sit cowering away in his office trying to avoid eye contact with his Minsters or security advisers for fear of having to make a decision. He didn’t seek to use a Cabinet sub-committee as a human shield for his own accountability.

John Howard took control of the Tampa situation, took action and the rest is history – the boats stopped coming.

When presented with a similar situation with the Oceanic Viking, Kevin Rudd blinked and the people smugglers got the message. Since then another 40 boats have arrived.

“I knew nothing”, as Mr Rudd boasted in the Parliament, is not what you want to hear from your Prime Minister when national security is at stake.

This is the real problem with Kevin Rudd and Labor when it comes to border protection. Their heart is just not in it. Instead they pretend to be one thing, while failing to be another.

Cooks blog is also published on The Punch where you can join the conversation by clicking here.

Multimedia : Transcript and Youtube video - Sky News

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: asylum seekers, Indonesia, Oceanic Viking, Off-shore processing

JOURNALIST: The Opposition is ramping up its attack on the Government‘s border protection policies after the arrival of two more boats carrying asylum seekers over the weekend. The latest arrived yesterday just 100kms off the West Australian coast. The Coalition says the Government’s policy changes are to blame and has flagged a return to temporary protection visas and off-shore processing of asylum seekers. Earlier, Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison spoke to Sky News political editor David Speers.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it’s not usually that hard to find boats that are looking to be intercepted. I mean, what has been concerning recently is those that have been getting a little closer to the coast and getting a little bolder in probably seeking to land on the mainland itself and getting access to our courts and those processes. They may well have learnt that Christmas Island is full as well and thought they’d take the journey all the way to the mainland and what the Government has made clear is that’s probably going to happen anyway once Christmas Island is full.

JOURNALIST: Is that the right thing because it is pretty close to capacity at Christmas Island. Should the government start transferring them to the mainland?

SCOTT MORRISON: No, we don’t believe so. Under our regime we had a no-compromise position on off-shore processing. Now, it’s been the Government’s lax policies that have led to this inordinate amount of arrivals and as a result they should have been looking for alternatives before now.

JOURNALIST: What are those alternatives?

SCOTT MORRISON: When we were in government we looked at offshore alternatives and we came up with some at the time. This Government is not interested in pursuing those options. They say they’ll bring them to the mainland before their claims have been tested.

JOURNALIST: So you’d look at Nauru again?

SCOTT MORRISON: We’re not ruling things in or out or anything like that. What we are saying though is that offshore processing is something we feel very strongly about but those sort of discussions are only discussions you can have in government. You know, governments don’t tend to talk to Oppositions about these sorts of matters and that’s appropriate. But you know we have demonstrated our position in Government and we would do so again.

JOURNALIST: But do you understand the adverse impact that offshore processing had on those asylum seekers in particular?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the quality and the way that processing is done in detention today is very different to what was occurring ten years ago for example, and a Coalition Government would obviously employ the lessons that we actually introduced while we were in government. Post 2006 we introduced quite a range of changes ; things like case management, parallel processing, things of that nature as well as some significant improvements into how mental health issues were managed and they’re important standards that were set and we’d honour those standards.

JOURNALIST: You have been highly critical also of how the Oceanic Viking issue was handled; you’ve written about this in your blog this week as well, but you still haven’t said how the Coalition would’ve handled that situation where you had asylum seekers refusing to disembark; a country in Indonesia that didn’t want to take them and the reluctance to force them off the boat, so what would you have done?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think it’s an unfair comparison because if we’d been in Government we obviously wouldn’t have rolled back our own regime which has led to this armada of boats that have arrived since that change, point number one. But beyond that, secondly, we hadn’t dismantled the Pacific Solution that we had in place and there obviously would have been alternatives there. But thirdly, the reason the Rudd Government came unstuck over this issue was, one, how they handled those that went back to the port of Merak which caused some real problems in the relationship with Indonesia. The Prime Minister was very quick to go out and verbal the conversation that he had with the President at the time and then all of a sudden he found that he had major difficulties when he was trying to then get a solution to the 78 Tamils on the Oceanic Viking. That was the product of a poorly handled relationship; the product of a Prime Minister that really likes to grandstand when he has these conversations.

JOURNALIST: It was an extraordinary situation and in the end it was settled. The other option was to do nothing and you have the situation in the port of Merak where its been a 150 days now and you’ve got all those asylum seekers still on board in terrible conditions; one woman’s about to give birth on the boat. That’s hardly the ideal outcome.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well they should get off the boat and they should avail themselves of the processes of the UNHCR. That’s what should happen.

JOURNALIST: Well if they refuse to do so?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s their choice - they can get off the boat and they can avail themselves of those processes. But I don’t think the Oceanic Viking outcome was a good one David, because we had four people who we have now had to take onto Christmas Island who were given adverse security assessments by ASIO. Now, in no other situation where you are dealing with asylum seekers in that manner in another country would they have ever been brought to Christmas Island. The Government signed up unseen, in order to solve their own political problems, to 78 people they knew nothing about. The Prime Minister didn’t even ask the question of his own national security adviser during what was going on with the Border Protection meetings of what the deal was. Now John Howard didn’t cower under his desk when the Tampa was steaming around the northern oceans. But what we’ve found with this Prime Minister was that he was looking for complete deniability all the way through that issue. That’s not what you want from the Prime Minister.

JOURNALIST: And is that one thing you can guarantee that under a Coalition Government; that no-one with an adverse security finding would ever be allowed into Christmas Island or the mainland?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we wouldn’t have that situation simply because the Prime Minister signed up unseen to people that you would not normally sign up to. Now the normal process in those circumstances would be the UNHCR would have done their processing and their checks, ASIO would have gone in and done their job and they basically would have said no and they would have remained in Indonesia. It would then not be our responsibility to broadcast to the world the situation of those individuals it would be for other countries to resettle them to make their own judgements. So the Prime Minister has not only put Australia’s security at risk in this matter but he’s really jeopardised those individual situations as well because they’re basically marooned now on Christmas Island and I suspect at some stage the government will roll over and let them onto Australian soil.

JOURNALIST: Scott Morrison, thanks for your time.

Multimedia : Transcript and Youtube video - ABC2 News Breakfast

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: Indonesian President's visit, asylum seekers, Oceanic Viking

JOURNALIST: People smuggling will be firmly on the agenda when Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono meets Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra this week. The two countries have been working on a framework to respond to asylum seeker boats following the Oceanic Viking Standoff.

JOURNALIST: But progress has been slow and meanwhile Australia has intercepted 20 boats so far this year. Scott Morrison is the Opposition’s Immigration Spokesman and he joins me now in Canberra. Thank you for joining us. What do you believe the Prime Minister should be saying to the Indonesian President?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think that what’s important is that the Prime Minister outlines what Australia is going to do in terms of its own policies to deter people smuggling and the most important of those is to toughen up the immigration processes and to restore many of the elements that they inherited from the Coalition Government which had brought the boats to zero. The Prime Minister talked on the weekend about a durable solution but we had a durable solution because the number of boats had reduced to zero there was only eighteen boats over the last 6 years of the Coalition Government. We’ve had 20 boats now in just nine weeks which at that pace is higher than at any time since these boats have been recorded.

JOURNALIST: Well what do you believe should happen in the relations between Australia and the Indonesians that could prevent that happening?
What do you believe Kevin Rudd should be saying this week?

SCOTT MORRISON: As I said what he should be doing is outlining what changes he’s going to make to his policies. The Prime Minister has been trying to shove this problem off onto Indonesia. Every time he had a conversation with the Indonesian President about this he makes it public. He likes to big note himself around these issues but when the Coalition was in government we had a strong practical working relationship with the Indonesian Government which helped us get the boats down to zero and stopped people putting their lives at risk in the hands of the people smugglers. Now that relationship is no longer in place over the way that the Prime Minister both handled those sent back to the Port of Merak but also in the handling of the Oceanic Viking which has clearly created great tensions in the relationship between our two countries.

JOURNALIST: The time that the Indonesian President had to delay his trip the Opposition was saying it was because things were going so wrong with the Oceanic Viking. Other watchers were saying it was more because of diplomatic pressures back home that the Indonesian President had to cope with. Now that the Indonesian President is coming is that not a sign that relations are good and that there is a good working relationship between them?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the boats keep coming and there is no arrangement currently which, for example, would enable us to tow boats back. When we were in government we had the type of relationship which enabled us to deal with boats as they arrived, and on at least four occasions we took boats back to within close range of the Indonesian coast and it was done with the cooperation of the Indonesian Government. It was all done very professionally and it was all done in a way which reflected the practical relationship at the time. Now we don’t have that relationship with Indonesia at the moment because I think the Indonesian Government is not convinced about the resolve of the Australian government in dealing with this issue. They had no doubts in their mind about our resolve. When the Coalition was in power we had clear policies and we had clear resolve and we brought the boats to zero. Now that’s what I believe the Indonesian Government wants to see from our Government. They want to see some clear commitments and some clear resolve to do things on our side of the fence which is actually attracting people to our shores. We’ve had 88 boats on Kevin Rudd’s watch since he started dismantling the regime that he inherited. He basically went to fix something that wasn’t broken and now he’s dealing with the consequences of his actions.

JOURNALIST: The Government is saying that more boats are coming also as a consequence of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. Could you not concede that this could have some affect on the number of people getting here.
SCOTT MORRISON: Well there’s never been any shortage of customers for people smugglers so lets put this in perspective. Back in 1999-2001 the total number of asylum applications in each of those years on average was 40% higher in western countries than it is today. The number of Afghan asylum seekers or refugees back in those years was about 3.8 million and today there’s 2.8 million. Of course there are always people looking for asylum but to suggest that this has led from going to eighteen boats to almost 90 boats in around 18-20 months I think is ridiculous. The other thing I’d say is this; since the Oceanic Viking debacle almost half the number of boats that have turned up on Kevin Rudd’s watch have turned up. You send signals to people smugglers when you bungle these issues and that’s what happened in this case both through their failed policies and their lack of resolve when tested like they were on the Oceanic Viking when they basically did a special deal which allowed four people to go to Christmas Island who had adverse security findings.

JOURNALIST: Scott Morrison, you’ve been talking about the 400 new arrivals coming to Christmas Island each month according to your estimates, if it transpires – although the Government is saying that it won’t happen – that some do need to come to the mainland, in effect what’s wrong with that, why not have less expensive processes - because clearly it costs a lot of money in administration and running costs to actually have this detention centre on Christmas Island?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well there are two problems with it, first, is that it says to people smugglers, you can now get your clients all the way to the Australian mainland without even having their claims tested. Offshore processing was one of the key factors, if not the key factor which led to getting the boats down to zero when we were in Government, so it’s a key deterrent factor. The second issue is this; it opens up a very murky legal territory which the Government, I believe, is extraordinarily complacent about. One of the issues we used to have when people were processed on-shore is that we would have endless appeals year after year after year and that was the reason why, in most cases, people were spending many years in detention because they were seeking endless appeals through the court system. Processing off shore was the key factor that led to the end of that process. Basically bringing people on shore to complete their processing will see this escalate not diminish.

JOURNALIST: Scott Morrison, from Sydney, thank you very much for joining us.

Multimedia : Transcript and audio link - ABC Radio - The World Today

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click on the link at the end of this page to listen to the program.

Subjects: illegal boat arrivals, visit of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

ELEANOR HALL: The Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Canberra this week and the arrival of several more boatloads of asylum seekers has ensured that the Prime Minister will again be talking about the politically fraught subject of people smuggling.

The Federal Government has been trying to keep the debate under control since the month-long standoff involving the Oceanic Viking tested the relationship with Indonesia earlier this year.

During his visit this week, the Indonesian President is set to sign a new agreement on the issue with Kevin Rudd but the Opposition is already accusing Mr Rudd of offloading the responsibility for asylum seekers onto Indonesia.

In Canberra, Alexandra Kirk reports.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: So far this year 20 boats carrying asylum seekers have been intercepted, two at the weekend and there's no sign of any slowdown. The Opposition's immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says it's the highest arrival rate on record.

SCOTT MORRISON: We are at the highest rate of arrivals per month since boat arrival records have been kept and if it keeps on this track we will have over 100 arrivals this year and well over 5,000 people.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Government maintains it's a worldwide phenomenon - in other words Labor's policies are not the reason for the influx. Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor dismisses the Coalition's argument.

BRENDAN O'CONNOR: The fact is that he has based that on data that hasn't been fully completed. The fact remains even from the existing data we know that Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and other countries have experienced significant increases in 2009 compared with 2008.

The fact is that there are conflicts that will lead to people seeking asylum. What you see is fewer vessels getting closer to the mainland. We certainly did not have the amount of vessels that arrived on the mainland that we saw under the Howard government.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: But Scott Morrison isn't budging.

SCOTT MORRISON: In the UK last year we had asylum applications fall by 6 per cent. In the last full quarter they fell by 30 per cent. In the United States and in Canada, we saw similar falls. Across Europe and in all of these areas, the number of asylum applications today is 40 per cent lower than it was when the Coalition faced the surge of arrivals back in 99 through to 2001.

There is an inexhaustible market almost for people smugglers. What changes it is when domestic policies turn the product into something that is attractive and that is what has occurred.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Kevin Rudd's been seeking to cement an agreement with Indonesia to counter people smuggling and stem the growing number of asylum seekers heading to Australia.

It's understood he and President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono, who arrives in Australia tomorrow for a two-day visit, will sign a people smuggling agreement - a new framework under the existing Lombok treaty.

Scott Morrison says Kevin Rudd should stop trying to palm the problem off to Indonesia as he did with the Oceanic Viking asylum seekers.

SCOTT MORRISON: I mean we have basically spent so many credit points in how we have been dealing with these issues with the Indonesians and that is not how you have a practical working relationship. He needs to rebuild the trust based on having some real policies.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: He doesn't think a new accord will help.

SCOTT MORRISON: No, I don't think it will. I mean Kevin Rudd has been looking for Indonesian solutions so he doesn't have to come up with an Australian solution and the Australian solution is what has proved to be successful in the past with the border protection regime and immigration arrangements that the Coalition put in previously.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: Fergus Hanson, a research fellow with the Lowy Institute, has just written a paper on Australia's relationship with Indonesia. He says it's in a deep rut - that while government-to-government ties have been strengthening, relations are focused around a mostly negative set of security-related issues with poor mutual public perceptions.

He says a new accord on people smuggling could help lift the relationship out of its stagnation.

FERGUS HANSON: Well, I think the problem is still to continue to flare up. You would expect that this will continue to be an issue but if it is able to try and neutralise some of the more rhetorical language that we hear coming from politicians then I think that is a good thing.

Because this is one of the areas where we see passions flare up on any number of asylum seeker issues. You can think of the Tampa or the Oceanic Viking, or West Papuan asylum seekers. So if we can neutralise that to an extent and push that to one side, I think that will allow the relationship to have the opportunity to develop in a more positive direction.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: The Opposition, meanwhile, says it's Kevin Rudd that needs to take a new approach to asylum seekers and people smugglers. Scott Morrison suggests the Government take a leaf out of the Howard government's immigration policy handbook including towing boats back.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well our policy is to have an uncompromising position on offshore processing.

ALEXANDRA KIRK: But you haven't spelled out whether you want to reinstate the Pacific Solution?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, people can call it whatever term they like but our position is that we would be uncompromising on offshore processing.

ELEANOR HALL: That is Scott Morrison, the Opposition immigration spokesman ending that report from Alexandra Kirk.

Media Release : Opinion Article, Sunday Telegraph: The smugglers' PM of choice

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

While Kevin Rudd still has his ‘hair shirt’ on, he must not forget to apologise for breaking his promise and dismantling the strong border protection regime he inherited from the Coalition.

Since Kevin Rudd began his border rollback in August 2008, 86 boats and almost 4000 people have arrived illegally on his watch.

Every tent that is erected on Christmas Island is an admission of Labor’s immigration failure.

On election eve, Kevin Rudd promised he would turn back the boats. As the recent inquiry into the explosion on SIEV 36 revealed, by April 2009 Kevin Rudd had changed his policy but hadn’t told anyone.

Whether it was turning back the boats, temporary visas, off shore processing in other countries or the strong resolve shown over the Tampa, the Howard Government was serious about stopping people smugglers, and it worked.

In the first two months of 2010 we have had more than three times the number of people arrive illegally by boat than in the last six years of the Coalition Government.

In 2010, there have been 18 illegal boat arrivals, two per week, with more than 950 people on board. This led me to recently describe 2010 as Kevin Rudd’s year of the people smuggler.

Knowing they cannot spin the people smugglers, Labor instead tries to spin the Australian people. They claim their recent surge in illegal boat arrivals is all about international push factors.

Since we experienced the last surge in illegal boat arrivals a decade ago, the number of asylum applications in western countries has fallen by almost 40%.

Data released by the UK Government Home office last week showed last year asylum applications in the UK, Canada and the US all declined, yet in Australia they increased by more than 30%. In the UK, asylum applications in the December quarter fell by 30%.

But even though global demand may arguably be lower, there has always been plenty of business for people smugglers. The difference is that Australia has not always been a soft touch for their trade.

The Rudd Government also says the spike is due to ‘regional’ conflicts in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

The Government knows the Sri Lankan traffic has largely dried up over summer and they refuse to advise the nationality of recent arrivals of groups to obscure this fact.

Afghanistan is an interesting case. There are 2.8 million Afghan refugees in the world today. This compares to 3.8 million back in 2001, when the Coalition was dealing with this issue. 2.6 million Afghans refugees are living in Pakistan and Iran. More than half of these have never lived in Afghanistan.

Since 2002, a year after Australian defence forces were sent to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban, 5.6 million Afghans have returned home, including 278,500 in 2008.

As thousands of Australian defence force personnel have gone to Afghanistan to make their home safer, thousands of young male Afghans have come to Australia seeking asylum. Under the Rudd Government they have received permanent visas within about 110 days of arriving. You can imagine what message this sends to our defence forces heading in the other direction.

Afghanistan is a long way from Australia. It is not a ‘regional’ conflict. There are closer asylum options available, such as the UK. Under Kevin Rudd we have become a destination of choice for Afghan refugees, not need.

But why should we stop the boats? It’s simple, people die on boats, including a reported 105 Afghans who set off from Indonesia last October never to be heard from again. We should not encourage a practice that encourages people to put their lives at risk for the profit of organised crime.

Secondly, it’s about fairness. Less than 1% of the worlds’ refugees will be granted permanent settlement in one of just 16 countries this year, including Australia. The need is great and the places are few. Every place provided to someone who comes illegally by boat is a place denied to someone we might otherwise choose to help.

To paraphrase John Howard, we should decide who we help, not the people smugglers or those who can afford to pay them.

Media Release : Labor set for boat arrival record - two illegal boat arrivals in 24 hours

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said today that the illegal arrival of the second boat in 24 hours underscores the massive failure of the Rudd Government’s immigration and border protection laws.

“This is the 20th boat to arrive illegally this year, the second in 24 hours and the 88th since the Rudd Government rolled back the Coalition’s strong immigration laws,” Mr Morrison said.

“In 2010, illegal boat arrivals are occurring at an even faster rate than our highest year on record in 1999, when 86 boats arrived at an average of around 7 per month. In 2010, boats are arriving at the rate of more than nine per month, more than 25% higher than in 1999,” he said.

“In the first nine weeks of 2010 we have had more boats arrive illegally than in the last six years of the Coalition Government.

“Knowing they cannot spin the people smugglers, Labor tries to spin Australians by claiming the sustained surge in illegal boat arrivals is all about international push factors.

“In fact, since Australia last experienced a surge in illegal boat arrivals a decade ago, the number of asylum applications in western countries has fallen by almost 40%.

“Data recently released by the UK Government Home Office showed that last year asylum applications in the UK, Canada and the US all declined, yet in Australia they increased by more than 30%. In the UK, asylum applications in the December quarter fell by 30%.

“Even though global demand is lower, there has always been plenty of business for people smugglers. The difference is that Australia has not always been a soft touch for their trade,” he said.

Mr Keenan said: “The Australian people deserve an explanation, as to how this latest arrival was allowed to get within 100 km of Western Australia.

"The Government needs to release the details of exactly how close this boat was intercepted to Western Australia's shores, and explain how it was able to come so close to our coastline.

"This boat was intercepted only a stone's throw from Western Australia's coast - how much longer will it be before they begin to arrive on our beaches?” Mr Keenan said.

Media Release : Over 4000 illegal arrivals on Labor's watch with more to come

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said today that the latest illegal boat arrival carrying 80 passengers and 3 crew, took the total number of arrivals since the Rudd Government rolled back the Coalition’s strong immigration regime to more than 4000.

“The latest boat is number 19 for the year, taking the total number of people to have arrived illegally by boat in 2010 to more than 1,000. At this rate there will be more than 100 boats arrive illegally this year and more than 5,000 people,” Mr Morrison said.

“There is no shortage of potential customers for people smugglers under the Rudd Government’s policies,” he said.

“Last week the UNHCR revealed there were currently 79,300 refugees and asylum seekers registered in Malaysia, originating from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan and a further 20,000 estimated to be unregistered.

“Malaysia has long been a transit point on the people smugglers highway from the middle east.

“While those from Myanmar have traditionally been unable to secure the price demanded by the people smugglers, this has not been the experience of the Sri Lankans, Afghans and Iraqis.

“These groups have dominated the passenger manifests of the 87 boats and more than 4000 people that have illegally arrived since Labor rolled back the Coalition’s border protection regime.

“Under the Rudd Government people smugglers now have the product that enables them to pursue their trade in an almost inexhaustible market,” he said.

Mr Keenan said: “The Government's omission of key details of this latest arrival, including the location and time of interception, are clear signs of panic.

"The Government is finally being confronted with the seriousness of their border protection crisis, and in typical fashion is hiding information to avoid public scrutiny.

"The Government has been withholding the nationality of passengers for a while now and earlier this week we saw them withhold the location of an interception - now they're withholding the time of the interception.

"At this rate the Government will soon stop announcing illegal arrivals altogether,” Mr Keenan said.

Media Release : Kevin Rudd must apologise for border protection failures as another boat arrives

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Kevin Rudd must apologise for his border protection failures as another boat was intercepted near Ashmore Islands earlier today, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said today.

“While Kevin Rudd is busy apologising for his many failures and broken promises, he must not forget to apologise for his failure to maintain the strong border protection regime he inherited from the Coalition,” Mr Morrison said.

“Before the last election Kevin Rudd was talking tough, promising he would turn back the boats. Yet on his watch, not one boat has been turned back, while 86 have arrived, carrying almost 4000 people,” he said.

“The latest boat brings this year’s tally to 18 boats and more than 950 people. That’s as many boats and even more people than arrived in the last six years of the Coalition Government.

“Under Labor we have gone from an average of three illegal boat arrivals per year to two boats every week!

“The arrival of yet another boat, as more tents go up on Christmas Island, is further proof of the Government’s failure to honour their promise. For this Kevin Rudd must take responsibility and acknowledge his inability to deliver,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Keenan said Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor’s failure to disclose the location of the latest interception was the Government’s first admission that the boats are getting alarmingly close to Australian shores.

“Minister O’Connor is finally showing signs of panic and coming to terms with the severity of this crisis by omitting the exact location of this latest interception,” Mr Keenan said.

“Australia’s border protection is in disarray and not even the Minister responsible is willing to reveal how bad the situation has become.

“I call on the Minister to reveal exactly how far from Australian shores this latest boat was intercepted and why he failed to disclose this information to the Australian public,” Mr Keenan said.

Event : Scott Morrison MP - Cook Community Consultation

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:34:23 GMT

Event

Scott Morrison MP - Cook Community Consultation

Saturday 27th March 2010

Time : 10:00:00

Location : Kareela Shopping Village

Event Details:

From 10am to noon, Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison will be at Kareela Shopping Village to speak with local residents.
Feel free to come and meet Scott to discuss any issue or just come and say hi.

Media Release : Boat surge continues while Rudd spins

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said the latest illegal boat arrival, with 57 people on board, continues the sustained surge under Labor which has been responsible for 17 boats arriving so far this year.

Mr Morrison said Kevin Rudd’s spin on the surge being caused by global push factors is further exposed by new figures from the United Kingdom which show a fall in asylum applications.

“Once again the Rudd Government is blaming global push factors for this surge in illegal arrivals. However figures released in the UK have exposed once again that Labor's excuses are just more spin,” Mr Morrison said.

“The number of asylum applications in the last quarter of 2009 in the UK fell by 30% to 4,765 compared with 6,775 in the last quarter in 2008. It was reported the figures included asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Iran.

“For the full year the UK had a 6% decline in asylum applications during 2009, compared to a 30% increase for Australia, based on UNHCR figures.

“The only reason we are facing this sustained surge is the Rudd Government and their failed immigration policies which are acting as a magnet for people smugglers,” he said.

Mr Keenan said: “Each day the boats are arriving closer and closer to our shores while the Government continues to deny there is a serious problem," said Mr Keenan.

“The Rudd spin machine has been hard at work as the Government continues to avoid scrutiny over the collapse of Australia's border protection.

“This morning Minister O'Connor conveniently held a press conference an hour before releasing the information regarding this latest arrival, despite the boat arriving last night.

“How much longer will the Government avoid scrutiny, and how much closer will they allow these boats to get before they act?” Mr Keenan said.

Media Release : Kevin Rudd's summer of boats

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said the arrival of the latest illegal boat, carrying 45 passengers and 2 crew, makes it 28 illegal arrivals in Kevin Rudd’s summer of boats, seven times as many boats as arrived last summer.

“Last summer 4 boats arrived carrying 144 people. Now, with people smugglers influenced by the full effects of Kevin Rudd’s magnetic immigration policies and the Oceanic Viking special deal, 28 boats have arrived with 1,361 people on board, almost ten times the number of people last summer,” Mr Morrison said.

“Not even the forces of nature in form of the dangerous monsoon season can counteract the magnetic impact of Kevin Rudd's failed policies. Boats continue to arrive illegally every week.

“Labor is simply not up to fixing this huge problem. Their heart is not in it.

“Under Labor 95% of those who arrive at Christmas Island are given permanent visas. This is a very high strike rate, particularly when the most recent data on acceptance rates from the UNHCR is 81%.”

Mr Keenan said: “The avalanche of arrivals this year has exposed gaping holes in Australia's border protection.

“Border Protection Command is stretched beyond capacity under the new average of three boat arrivals a week, which has allowed this latest boat to slip through a stones throw from Christmas Island.”

Speech : Rotary Club of Cronulla

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Speech

Rotary Club of Cronulla

Thursday 25th February 2010

I rise today to acknowledge a significant milestone for one of the most active service clubs in my electorate, the Rotary Club of Cronulla. In February 1950, some 60 years ago this week, the Rotary organisation came to the Sutherland Shire with the creation of its first club, the Rotary Club of Cronulla. I have a personal friendship with many of the members, am an honorary member of the club and have a strong appreciation for the hard work they do in our community. I also know they are very active fundraisers and I would like to pay tribute to the club’s members who do so much for local charities.

Originally to be called the Rotary Club of Sutherland, the newly-formed club became the Rotary Club of Cronulla because a suitable meeting place could not be found in Sutherland. There were 25 charter members at the time of the club’s formation, and the charter president was Mr Angus Gunn. He filled the position at the last moment due to the sudden transfer of Mario Perryman, a noted local identity who was employed as a bank manager. The charter night was held at the Cecil Ballroom, Cronulla, with 400 Rotarians and guests including the District Governor, Ollie Oberg, who later became a first Vice President of Rotary International.

The first members of the Rotary Club of Cronulla helped to build much of the shire’s community infrastructure. The shire was still very much a development area in the 1950s, and large areas were being opened up for new housing. The members of Cronulla Rotary erected a stone hut for a boy scout camp on the shore of the Woronora River. Blocks of stone were cut from a nearby location and floated across the river on a timber raft made in a member’s workshop. If attempted today, the project would probably be a public liability insurer’s minefield.

Over many years the club has embarked on countless other projects including playgrounds, building work, transportation and other assistance for the disabled, erection of a chapel at Sutherland Hospital and landscaping works at our nation’s birthplace at Kurnell. The club has made a contribution towards the fostering of international relations by hosting visitors from many overseas countries, including tour groups from Austria, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and South Africa. Members of the club have joined volunteer delegations overseas, including one group that went to PNG to build a school and another that went to Nepal to work on a hospital project. Current efforts of club members include support for orphans from the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia. A recent fundraising appeal collected $450 for the victims of this year’s earthquake in Haiti. Rotary members think nothing of giving up their personal time throughout the year at their many barbecues, particularly the large one on Australia Day at Cronulla beach.

It would take me far too long to list the many organisations that have benefited from Cronulla Rotary, but on behalf of those many local organisations I thank the Rotary Club of Cronulla for their service. In 2010 the Rotary club organisation will mark its 105th anniversary at an international level and 88 years at a national level. I join with the members of Cronulla Rotary to celebrate their 60th anniversary and acknowledge in this place the great contribution they have made to the lives of many residents of my local community and those less well-off than they are. I would particularly like to acknowledge the hard work of their current president, Mr Stuart Payne, and the current members of his board, including my good friend, Kevin Schreiber.

Media Release : People smugglers remind Rudd who's the boss as another boat arrives

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Federal Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said Kevin Rudd’s claim to be taking action on illegal boat arrivals has been mocked by people smugglers as the 15th boat of the year carrying 47 people was intercepted by ACV Ashmore Guardian, at 10:45am (AEDST) today near the Ashmore Islands.

Mr Morrison said: “While the Attorney General was announcing the Rudd Government’s proposed response to people smuggling in the parliament another boat was on its way to let the Rudd Government know who was really in charge – the people smugglers.

“The interception of the 15th boat this year brings this year’s total number of illegal arrivals to more than 800 people.

“The arrival of this boat underscores the Coalition’s message that it is the government’s soft policies that is causing the escalation in illegal boat arrivals to Australia. Until they acknowledge this fact they are leaving Australia’s borders wide open to abuse by people smugglers.

“The Rudd Government is literally kidding itself on this issue. People smugglers are immune to Labor’s spin. People smugglers only understand the type of action and resolve demonstrated when the Coalition was last in Government.

“The Coalition is ready to pick up where we left off on protecting our borders. That is a message the people smugglers will understand,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Keenan said: “Despite this being the 83rd boat to arrive since August 08, the government continues to deny that they are buried in a crisis of their own making.

“The fact that they have taken almost 12 hours to announce this latest arrival is an indication of the lack of seriousness the government is showing towards this flood of arrivals.

“When will Minister O’Connor acknowledge that he has failed to secure Australia’s borders?” Mr Keenan said.

Media Release : Transcript - Doorstop Interview - People Smuggling Legislation

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the government’s announcements last night and introduced into the parliament today about people smuggling are frankly too little too late.

After 82 boats arriving on their watch and some two years have passed, this is what it has taken for the government to act. At the end of the day they are missing the big point – that is why are people seeking to come to Australia in this way, in this illegal way? And it is because of the pull factors being created by the magnetic impact of the government’s border protection policies. They dismantled the effective border protection regime that they inherited from the coalition and as a result we have had the rate of boat arrivals has increased from 3 per year over 6 years under the coalition to 1 a week and now 2 a week. In the summer months alone we have had 26 boats arrive, we have had 14 boats arrive in just this new calendar year.

This issue is out of control and the government’s attempts to blame everything other than their own policies is what is really at stake here. I mean this is a government that took a soft option on the Oceanic Viking. This is a government who handed over permanent protection visas to the survivors of the SIEV 36 while there was still investigations proceeding on that matter and still have not concluded. This is a government who only last October though handing out volley ball nets in Sri Lanka was an effective means of border protection.

This government needs to understand that they’re the problem and they need to end their denial of the magnetic impact of their own failed border protection policies. That is what they must address. They are the hard decisions they have to take, but all we see from them is blaming everything other than themselves.

JOURNALIST: Aren’t expanded powers for ASIO, heavier fines and gaol terms, aren’t those going to help combat the people smugglers?

SCOTT MORRISON: The Coalition is supporting these measures but our simple point is this. These are the things that aren’t driving this trade. What is driving this trade is the product and this government has value added this like no one prior.

This is a government that dismantled a border protection regime that was working. They went and broke something that didn’t need fixing and as a result we have a rate of arrival now which is just running unabated and it is going to continue to increase.

As we know Christmas Island is full to overflowing and the government’s next step is to say well we will just bring people straight to the mainland and that will have an obvious impact in terms of further pull factors in terms of the people smuggling trade.

The other thing to point out is the people who come on the boats, and I am talking about the crew, are abused by the people smugglers also. They have very little knowledge of what they are getting into particularly the younger crew members who effectively have become people smugglers mules. There will be no shortage, sadly, of poor fishers in Indonesia who will be available to be used by the people smuggling trade. They will arrive, as I saw some of them when I was on Christmas Island recently, and the people who looked most worried getting off that boat quite frankly were the young crew who had no idea what they were getting into.

JOURNALIST: Because under these laws, they are the people who will face the tougher penalties and up to [inaudible] years jail.

SCOTT MORRISON: That is right.

JOURNALIST: Are you saying that they go too far for the people you would describe as potential victims here as well – the crews of these boats?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I don’t oppose the penalties and I don’t oppose the measures the government is introducing. I think we should be tough on these things. But at the end of the day the problem is the policies that the government has put in place that have created the pull factor. That is the problem. The government continues to deny this day in – day out as every new boat arrives. I mean the arrival of a new boat at Christmas Island is a twice weekly occurrence. It is not that extraordinary. Maybe this is the Government’s plan. We will get so used to this we will just accept it. Well the coalition will not accept it. We didn’t accept it in government. This government may be prepared to accept this unabated rate of arrivals but in government we will stop it.

JOURNALIST: Do you think ASIO needs more resources to do this job?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well what is unclear is the Shadow Attorney General George Brandis has been asking today and rightly; where are the resources to back up the additional powers? This is a government who would rather fake it than make it when it comes to effective border protection. They talk tough- this is a Prime Minister, who remember said before the last election on election eve in fact, I will turn back the boats. He rolls out the tough rhetoric but when it actually comes to deliver these policies on the ground he is nowhere to be found. He didn’t even inform himself, he says, of the of special deal offered to the 78 tamils on the Oceanic Viking. When national security was at stake, 4 people who were given an adverse ASIO security assessment ultimately were brought to Australia because of that deal. This is a Prime Minister who didn’t even know what was in the deal.

JOURNALIST: I know you have said the Liberal Party is broadly supportive of the plan the government has put forward, but is the Liberal Party comfortable with using an intelligence agency like ASIO to move into a new field like this one?

SCOTT MORRISON: What these measures effectively say is that people smuggling has become a national security issue and obviously the Coalition has no quibble with that. It is a national security issue and what I want to know, again, is why the Prime Minister, if he is so concerned about national security, why he literally chose not to inform himself of the deal that was offered to the Oceanic Viking passengers – a deal secured with the Indonesian government. A deal he denies to have had any knowledge of at the time it was offered, but yet had obvious national security implications for Australia. His National Security Adviser or his deputy attended every single meeting during the course of the negotiations on that deal. Now I couldn’t see John Howard in a similar circumstances or Tony Abbott trying to avoid eye contact with his National Security Adviser for a period of 4 weeks over a issue of national security. But that is what this Prime Minister did. He stands there yesterday pronouncing his national security credentials but when the heat is on and the decisions need to be taken, he was hiding in his office.

Media Release : Labor ignores the elephant in the room on people smuggling

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Labor’s announcements on people smuggling fail to address the core reason for the success of the people smuggling trade, Labor’s own soft immigration policies, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Labor’s announcement is too little too late. While the measures are supported, they fail to address the real cause of the problem, Labor’s dismantling of the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition,” Mr Morrison said.

“The Rudd Government must end their denial and address the pull factors they have created by their weak policies and broken promises, that have provided such an attractive product for people smugglers to sell,” he said.

“Under Labor’s policies, 82 boats have illegally arrived with 3,726 people on board. Christmas Island is full to overflowing and Labor remains in denial about the true cause of the problem. Only after more than two years do they come forward with this proposal.

“Labor’s policies are the reason the people smugglers have such a strong product to sell.

“There is no shortage of poor fisherman in Indonesia who can be duped by people smugglers into carrying their human cargo to Australia. The crews on the boats are patsies for the people smugglers, they have become the smugglers’ mules.

“The smugglers are no more concerned about the welfare of the crew than they are for any of the passengers on board their boats. The crews will probably never hear of these new sanctions.

“It is not uncommon for the real smugglers to either never step foot on the boat or be well clear of it by the time they rendezvous with Australian authorities.

“What is needed is for the government to demonstrate some genuine resolve to stop the boats.

“This is a government that would rather fake it than make it when it comes to border protection, and their actions speak louder than their words.

“In 2010 we have already had 14 boats arrive illegally, carrying more than 750 people. This represents two boats per week, compared to three boats per year under the last six years of the Coalition,” Mr Morrison said.

This is a government that:

• Gave permanent visas to all surviving passengers from SIEV 36, despite the fact there was an ongoing investigation, with potential criminal charges for the loss of 5 lives as well as endangering defence force personnel, regarding the explosion on that vessel.

• Did a special deal with the Indonesian Government and the 78 Tamils on board the Oceanic Viking that resulted in four refugees, who had been given an adverse security finding, being brought to Australia in an unprecedented manner, as a direct consequence of that deal.

• Promised the Australian people before the last election they would turn back the boats, and has abandoned that promise in government.

• Seriously thought that handing out volleyball nets to fishing villages in Sri Lanka was a frontline measure to combat people smuggling.

Blog Post : Workers deserved better from unions on Garrett's insulation failures

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Blog Post

Workers deserved better from unions on Garrett's insulation failures

I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for the Australian Workers Union.

Before anyone gets too excited, let me explain. My great, great aunt was Dame Mary Gilmore, the first female member of the AWU. Dame Mary was one of Australia’s greatest ever poets who now graces our ten dollar note.

Dame Mary edited the women’s page of the Australian Worker before heading off to South America in 1900 to be part of William Lane’s ‘New Australia’ commune in Paraguay.

Like all communist experiments it failed. Aunt Mary then spent two years living a very cold and lonely existence with her newborn son, while Uncle Bill went from one Argentine sheep station to the next to earn enough money to get them all back to Australia.

Some might think Dame Mary would be turning in her grave if she knew her great, great nephew was now a Federal Liberal Member of Parliament. But don’t be too quick to assume. While I am sure we would probably disagree on fundamental issues about the role of the state and the rights of the individual over the collective, there is much we would probably agree on.

Dame Mary was a devout nationalist and tireless campaigner for the rights of indigenous Australians, long before it was a mainstream political issue. Her famous poem ‘No foe shall gather our harvest’ rallied a nation during the war years, making her a national celebrity, not unlike Johnny Farnham and ‘You’re the voice’.

Aunt Mary may even share some of my cynicism about today’s labour movement.

Like many of her generation, being a part of the union in the 1890s was a good idea. Had I been a shearer or bush school teacher at the time, I suspect I would have joined up as well.

There are many tremendous stories of union achievement. Recently, I was on Christmas Island and learned the story of the Union of Christmas Island Workers who ended the use of coolies in the phosphate mine and achieved pay parity for their workers. They also pioneered one of our earlier examples of employee share ownership by coordinating members’ investment to reopen the mine, after the previous owners had shut it down.

There are of course still examples today of good work done by the union movement. However, my concern is that as times have changed, great union leaders of the past have been replaced more and more by post-Hawke suits and apparatchiks.

Their goal - use their standing as union leaders to promote their own personal profile and invest themselves in the national political debate as Labor stooges. This is how they are required to spend their time while they wait for their seat in parliament or Government appointment.

With one eye always to their own political future you have to ask the question about who comes first, the Labor Party or union members?

When the current fiasco broke regarding Peter Garrett’s bungled home insulation programme, it was not the union movement who were the first to break ranks and come clean on the warnings they gave the Government. They were far from whistleblowers.

Instead, union leaders were caught flat footed. They rushed to confess their warnings only after industry bodies and the Coalition shamed them into it. The unions were quite prepared to accept the assurances given by Mr Garrett. It would seem that not embarrassing the Rudd Government had taken priority.

Had the home insulation initiative been a Coalition Government programme, there would have been union marches from Trades Hall to public rallies in Federation Square. This has not happened, nor is it likely to. They haven’t even called on Mr Garrett to stand down.

One such union leader who was slow to their feet was the general secretary of Aunt Mary’s AWU and my regular twitter combatant, Paul Howes. Paul is one of the union movement’s new guard. He’s articulate, certainly not shy and no stranger to public commentary.

Paul ranges freely and widely, regardless of whether the issue is relevant to his role as union secretary or whether the AWU even has a policy position on the issue. For example, Paul is a regular critic of the Coalition on border protection, arguing the case for people smugglers, whom he compares to freedom fighters. I’m not sure he’s tested this position with the rank and file at the AWU.

But when there is an issue of direct relevance, such as Mr Garrett’s home insulation programme that placed workers at direct risk, there was an uncharacteristic silence.

His only alleged comment was to back up the ACTU and only after the issue was well out in eth public domain. So outraged was he about the Government’s abuses of worker safety, he used his next regular column in Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph to chide Tony Abbott over his opposition to the Government’s ETS. Sock it to them Paul, let ‘em know who’s boss.

But it didn’t stop there, the rage continued when he addressed the National Press Club last week, where he uttered not one word on Garrett or the safety abuses. Perhaps he intends to send Peter a very sternly worded letter.

Four young Australians have been killed and the union movement seems content to absolve the Government they paid $30 million to install at the last election. They are clearly happy with the Government’s excuse from Lindsay Tanner that they just didn’t have the time to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

Australian workers deserved better from their unions on Mr Garrett’s bungling of the home insulation programme. Their intoxication as political operatives and mindless pursuit of power for its own sake, has swamped the nobles purposes for which they were formed.

I’m not sure Aunt Mary would be too pleased with how things have worked out for her old movement – is seems like Bill Lane’s Paraguayan commune all over again.

Media Release : 2010: The year of the people smuggler as another boat arrives

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said the interception of the latest illegal boat, carrying 10 passengers and 3 crew, continues this year’s trend of two boats arriving a week.

Mr Morrison and Mr Keenan said: “Fourteen boats have now arrived this year carrying more than 700 passengers.

“2010 is proving to be another boom year for people smugglers under the Rudd Government's failed border protection regime.

“The Rudd Government continues to defy reality by failing to admit their changes to the Coalition’s strong border regime are to blame.”

Mr Morrison said: “Australians are sick of Kevin Rudd’s excuses and spin on illegal boat arrivals. They know Mr Rudd’s failure to act to stop this farce is proving over and over that he cannot make tough decisions and cannot keep his promises.

“Kevin Rudd is all talk no action on illegal boat arrivals.”

Mr Keenan said: “Despite this latest arrival, Minister O'Connor is refusing to accept that Australia's Border Protection is no longer effective.

"Minister O'Connor is walking in the footsteps of his Labor colleague Peter Garrett and putting Australian lives at risk, by failing to secure Australia's borders.

"How many boats need to arrive before the Minister will accept responsibility for his massive failures, reverse his Government's soft policy on border protection and restore security to our borders?" he said.

Media Release : Less talk, more action needed on aircraft noise

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison said the Rudd Government has failed to take action on resident’s concerns over aircraft noise, caused by their changes to aircraft operations that have created a highway in the sky over the Shire.

“Last year we exposed a major change in how planes were flying over the Shire, with a significantly increased concentration of flights down a very narrow path running from Sylvania Heights over Miranda and not Gymea and Gymea Bay. Other suburbs such as Kareela, Grays Point and Yowie Bay have also been impacted,” Mr Morrison said.

“At today’s meeting of the Sydney Airport Community Forum I called on Airservices Australia to follow through on their commitment I secured last year, for them to investigate what action could be taken to fix the problem,” he said.

“The only response we received again today was to confirm that the planes we have seen and heard flying over our homes, especially early in the morning, are actually there.

“Well we didn’t need to be convinced, we know they’re there. We want the Rudd Government to stop talking and take some action.

“In September last year, Airservices Australia committed to investigate ways to spread the flights over a wider area to minimise the concentration of noise, and ensure planes stayed above minimum altitudes. After four months, we’re still waiting for them to act.

“While Airservices today confirmed some of the noise problem was caused by construction works on Sydney Airport’s east/west runway, the main reason for the concentration is new flight path technology they have introduced. This is technology they seem reluctant to use to get a fairer outcome for Shire residents.

“Where does this leave Shire residents? Airservices should be doing their job and finding ways to ensure Shire residents are no longer forced to put up with unfair levels of aircraft noise, not making excuses for why it can’t happen.

“The Rudd Government are the ones who changed the rules and have been caught out. They must now set things right” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Transcript - 2GB Ray Hadley Program

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: Another illegal boat arrival, Christmas Island, SIEV 36 inquiry

EandOE

RAY HADLEY: Another boatload of illegal immigrants have been intercepted off the Ashmore Island last night, the 13th boat to arrive in Australian waters this year, 41 passengers, 4 crew stopped around 6.30pm, 22 nautical miles north west of the island. The illegal boat people are now taken to Christmas Island for security, health and identity checks. The Shadow Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison is on the line. G’day Scott.

SCOTT MORRISON: G’day Ray, how are you?

RAY HADLEY: Good. Just before we get to that I have got an email here I wanted to share with you, just came in. A gentleman says I got a phone call from my nephew who has been given a three month government contract to travel to Christmas Island, for he and his partner, and I guess other qualified professionals, will be assessing the mental health of Kevin’s refugees. I asked him what he will be looking for in their mental health, he said a lot of these people have been traumatized by war, have lost family and friends and the overcrowding is not helping their mental state. He further added that he was going there to tick and cross those who can come into the country, there was another process. I asked the question that he didn’t want me to ask, I said, how much are you getting paid? He said ‘heaps’. An example, $150 per day, per person as meal allowances, enough to travel abroad without working for six months, he explained to me. I read from this that we can expect a heavy influx of refugees into the mainland shortly. Other parts of the conversation can’t be repeated because of the foul language involved when I discussed it with my nephew. So we just don’t know how much we are having to spend up there, do we?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it’s expensive but my best guess Ray, both from what we went through with Senate Estimates the other week was that each additional person costs around $80,000 just to have them up there on Christmas Island based on the extra money they asked for, when things started getting out of control. So it is expensive when additional people start turning up, you do have to fly additional mental health nurses up, you do have to fly additional assessors up and there’s all the other recreation activities and various other things that go on. It becomes a very expensive exercise when it is out of control. If it is a small population, it is manageable.

RAY HADLEY: Ok. Specifically why I wanted to talk to you is the story today in all the publications about the deaths of the 5 people on board that boat in April of last year and the fact that the coroner or the counsel assisting the coroner has identified three men as acting in concert in implementing a plan to sabotage the boat and then the fact that the 35, 36 or 37 other people have now recanted on statements they gave to police, are not co-operating in any way, shape or form in order to convict anyone who may be charged down the track. These people are all in Australia because of the circumstances, the government brought them straight here on visas, including the three alleged murders.

SCOTT MORRISON: That’s right. The Minister gave all of them permanent protection visas last year and if they are charged they will have to go and find them, they are somewhere in Australia and the Minister also had the opportunity to knock back these visas on character grounds, not something he ever seems to do. So, it’s just another example, whether it’s that issue, whether it’s how you handle the Oceanic Viking, it comes to this issue Ray, they’re hearts are just not in it. I mean they talk the talk but when it comes to what needs to be actually done, and that means not giving visas to someone who might be suspected of murder, it’s a very serious issue…

RAY HADLEY: Well everyone, particularly those in authority, only had to speak to the ADF, the Australian Defence Force and they would have know the fire, the explosion, was lit by someone on the boat. Why then would you give 40 people protection visas to come here knowing that one, two, three or ten of them were responsible for the deaths of five others?

SCOTT MORRISON: It is a very good question and I can’t answer you Ray because the government is the ones who gave them those visas. I mean they didn’t even look at giving them a bridging visa or some other form of visa which would have made things conditional. You raise another important point there and that is, to what extent are people co-operating with the Federal Police and others in their inquiries to find people smugglers, to get to the heart of issues like this. When people are on Christmas Island there is an obvious opportunity to collect an enormous amount of intelligence. Now we’ve had 3,600 people show up since August 08, that’s quite a lot of stories that should be there to be telling us where these people are and how we can shut the business down.

RAY HADLEY: One would imagine. Thanks for your time as always.

SCOTT MORRISON: Thanks Ray.

Media Release : Another boat arrival, another broken promise by Labor

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said the interception of another boat carrying 41 passengers and four crew by HMAS Ararat this evening, is evidence of a further broken promise by Labor.

Mr Morrison and Mr Keenan said: “Only last Saturday we joined Tony Abbott in Darwin to go on board HMAS Ararat and meet the crew and talk about the important job they do for Australia. Only a few days later they have been back at sea ferrying more passengers to Christmas Island.

“Thirteen boats have now arrived this year carrying more than 700 passengers in just seven weeks.

“Labor promised to maintain a strong border protection regime, with Mr Rudd even claiming they would turn back the boats.

“As each boat arrives, it is abundantly clear that this is just another broken promise by Labor.”

Mr Keenan said: “This latest arrival is evidence that Minister O’Connor has now joined the growing queue of Rudd's bungling ministers.

"Minister O’Connor has overseen the complete collapse of Australia’s border protection and should be held accountable for putting our borders at risk.

"The Prime Minister needs to answer for the abysmal state of Australia's border protection, and the incompetency of his minister,” he said.

Mr Morrison said: “Like on so many issues, Labor blames international factors for their failures, but they can’t spin the boats away.

“The only thing that has really changed is that under Labor, Australia has become a soft touch for people smugglers and there is now a highway on the sea to Christmas Island.

“Earlier this week it was revealed that UNHCR figures showed that Australia’s increase in asylum applications in the nine months to September 2009 had increased more than five times the global average,” he said.

Media Release : How many Shire homes are at risk Mr Garrett?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison has called on Environment Minister Peter Garrett to advise him how many homes in the electorate of Cook are at risk because of his failed Home Insulation Programme.

“I wrote to Mr Garrett yesterday seeking detail of the number of homes affected by his dangerous scheme, so I can offer support to people and families affected,” Mr Morrison said.

“Last week I encouraged people to make contact with the hotline to find out whether they are at risk and what precautionary steps they should take,” he said.

“The bottom line is that people who have had this work done should stay out of their roofs until they get the all clear.

“This is a very serious issue involving public safety and Mr Garrett must be prepared to let our local community know just how many homes, people and families are at risk.

“I am also seeking information from Mr Garrett on the businesses who have been installing this material in our electorate, the methods they have used and the level of training undertaken by their staff.

“These are all the i’s and t’s that should have been dotted and crossed before this deadly scheme was allowed to go public. The Rudd Government was more focussed on spending money than ensuring public safety with this scheme.

“Like so many aspects of their stimulus package it was rushed and bungled. Tragically, four Australians have paid for this mismanagement with their lives,” Mr Morrison said.

***Federal Government insulation hotline 131 792***

Media Release : Shire needs the F6 extension tunnel

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison has today backed local NRMA Vice president Michael Tynan, in calling for the F6 extension to remain part of any plan for Sydney’s transport future.

Mr Morrison, who formed the F6 Coalition last year with Mr Tynan, said proposal to take over the F6 corridor for light rail, ignored one of the key reasons why building the F6 is so important.

“You can’t carry freight on light rail. One of the reasons the F6 has become so important is the need to get heavy traffic from Port Kembla off our local roads. This represents a significant danger for local families and motorists,” Mr Morrison said.

“The F6 extension is the missing link in Sydney‘s road system and provides a valuable commercial linkage between Sydney and the Illawarra. Port activity in the Illawarra will continue to expand into the future and it is vital that we have the infrastructure to support this growth,” he said.

“The Illawarra is an important source of employment for many people who live in the Shire, as well as the thousands of students who study at the University of Wollongong.

“Failure to deliver on the F6 extension, will cost jobs into the future and place further pressure on local roads, not designed for this purpose.

“Before people get too excited about new plans for the next thirty years we should probably try and implement the outstanding plan to build the F6 extension of more than fifty years ago. It was the right decision then, and is the right decision now.”

Mr Morrison also called on the Rudd Government to support the NRMA’s federal budget submission calling for $2 million in further planning works.

“At the last election the Coalition pledged $25 million for an alignment study and associated works on the F6 extension, to ensure that when funds were available, the project would be shovel ready.

“The Labor Party pledged nothing and has done nothing. They have run up a crippling debt that will deny funds for important projects like the F6 at a federal level for at least a decade. The least they can do is support the NRMA’s bid for $2 million to get the project ready to go” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Worldwide asylum figures reveal Rudd's spin

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today that official figures from the UNHCR’s monthly data on asylum trends recording the number of asylum applications, has exposed as spin Kevin Rudd’s claim that the massive increase in illegal boat arrivals is all due to global push factors.

“Figures released by the UNHCR show that in the nine months to September last year, worldwide asylum applications in 44 key industrialised countries rose by only 5%, while they increased by more than 25% in Australia,” Mr Morrison said.

“This hardly seems like a global push factor responsible for an increase in illegal boat arrivals to Australia from just 1 boat and 14 people in the nine months to September 2008, to 29 boats and more than 1,500 people during the same period in 2009,” he said.

“While figures for asylum applications for the full year are not yet available for all other countries to December, in Australia there was an increase of 30%.

“In the first nine months of 2009, there were 4,369 applications in Australia, compared to 3,457 in 2008, an increase of 26%. In the last three months a further 1,805 applications were lodged.

“During these last three months of 2009 another 32 boats illegally arrived carrying more than 1,250 people. In the first six weeks of 2010 we have had almost 700 people arrive in 12 boats. It took almost six months to reach this level of arrivals in 2008.

“These figures expose the Government‘s constant blame of international forces for their problems as just another excuse to do nothing.

“There have always been push factors, but Australia has not always been a soft touch for people smugglers. It took the Rudd Government to achieve that.

“This is just another example of Kevin Rudd trying to blame forces outside his control for his own policy failures and weak decisions, as occurred with the Oceanic Viking.

“This is out of control. It requires action, not more bunk beds and tents, to stop the boats. It takes a resolve that the Rudd Government lacks. Their heart is just not in it.

“Kevin Rudd promised a tough border protection policy. As revealed in Senate Estimates last week he even thought his policies would result in just 200 people arriving illegally this financial year when he put his budget together.

“That figure was revised up to 1,400 last November, when 1,000 people had already showed up. But with the last boat arriving on Saturday, there have now been more than 2,600 people arriving illegally this year by boat.

“The cost for the first underestimate was $132 million. The cost of the rest is; how long is a piece of string?” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : Transcript and audio link - 2GB Ray Hadley program

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click on the link at the end of this page to listen to the interview.

Subjects: UNHCR figures reveal Rudd’s spin on boat arrivals, Border Protection Committee of Shadow Cabinet

EandOE

RAY HADLEY: New figures on illegal boat people show the influx of arrivals are not due to the so-called push factors in other countries that have been trotted out by the Prime Minister. Instead illegal immigrants are being drawn to Australia because, in my opinion, the Federal Government’s relaxing the immigration laws. Figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shows asylum applications rose globally by only 5% in the nine months to September. In Australia applications from people rose by 25%. 25%. The results undermine the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s claim that push factors including war and civil unrest were forcing more illegal immigrants to flee other countries around the world. In North America the number of asylum applications actually declined by 3% in the nine months to September. Likewise in the United Kingdom the applications through to November fell by more than 30,000 to under 24,000 last year. The Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is on the line. Scott, g’day.

SCOTT MORRISON: G’day Ray.

RAY HADLEY: This is what he does all the time our Prime Minister.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well this is true Ray. He wants to blame global forces for everything, nothing is his fault, nothing is his responsibility. But the facts are here and they are that it’s his policies, it’s his decisions that have created the magnet for people smugglers which has filled up Christmas Island and now he will be bringing people to the mainland. It’s all spin as usual. There have always been global push factors, no one is denying that there are not millions of people who are in a distressed situation around the world but the point is, that hasn’t gotten worse, which is what he has been trying to say. As a result the only thing that has changed is that we have become a soft touch and as a result people are coming and that is under the policies of the Rudd Government.

RAY HADLEY: The point I wanted to make is he spoke off the cuff at that Q&A Program on the ABC last Monday and as The Australian pointed out on Tuesday he got all the figures wrong, from laptops to every other question he was asked by the young people who had gathered there. Now it appears to me that he says the first thing that comes into his mind without any stats to back up what he is saying and that was illustrated by his answers to those young people on Q&A and here is another case in point. He believes anecdotally that the figures are up but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says they’re not. So when is it going to stop? When is he going to stop simply offering what he thinks to be the truth as opposed to what is actually the truth?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well as long as he thinks he can continue to get away with it Ray. And I think that’s what the Opposition is trying to call him out on here and on your program and others, particularly yours on this issue, we’ve been making it very clear that the reasons so many people are coming is because of their policies and their decisions like the way they handled the Oceanic Viking. We’ve had almost as many people arrive in the last six weeks that arrived in the first six months of 2009. So this problem is getting worse, not better. Amazingly they thought when they put their budget together last year that only 200 people would turn up and that’s one of those ‘tell him you’re dreaming’ type comments that would apply to that type of logic. They simply don’t get it. I don’t think their heart is in trying to stop the boats and at the end of the day it’s a question of resolve and they don’t have it.

RAY HADLEY: Ok. Now at the weekend the Coalition announced the formation of a border protection committee of the Shadow Cabinet. Now that comprises yourself, Julie Bishop, David Johnston, George Brandis, Michael Keenan, Jason Wood and most importantly a bloke that has forgotten more about this than most people know, Phillip Ruddock. What will this committee do?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we want a singular policy that deals with how you stop the boats. Because it’s not just what you do with your immigration policy, it’s what you do with foreign affairs, it’s what you do with your Attorney General, with the Australian Federal Police and Customs and you need all of these things working together to stop the boats. Now that’s the same approach we took when we were in government last time. When Kevin Rudd puts committees together he uses them as a human shield from his own decisions so he doesn’t have to make one. But this committee will develop a single policy that will seek to stop the boats and we’ll announce that before the next election.

RAY HADLEY: Ok, look forward to talking to you when that does get announced.

SCOTT MORRISON: Thanks a lot Ray.

RAY HADLEY: Scott Morrison, Shadow Immigration Minister, talking to us.

Media Release : Joint statement with Michael Keenan MP - Illegal boat arrivals go from bad to worse under Rudd

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison and Shadow Minister for Justice, Customs and Border Protection, Michael Keenan said today that the illegal arrival of the 12th boat this year highlights illegal boat arrivals are going from bad to worse, with the rate of arrivals continuing to escalate, overwhelming Government forecasts.

"The illegal arrival of yet another boat, this time with 50 people on board, intercepted south of Ashmore Islands, brings this year's total to 12 boats and almost 700 people,” Mr Morrison said

"In 2010 we have had as many people arrive in just six weeks as it took in almost six months in 2009,” he said.

"Boats are now arriving illegally at the rate of 2 a week, at an average of more than 50 people on each boat. At this rate we could see more than 100 boats arrive illegally this year, and more than 5,000 people. This would eclipse all previous levels of illegal arrivals.”

Mr Keenan said: "The Rudd Government’s inability to deal with the crisis of illegal boat arrivals has again come to the fore.

"Senate estimates revealed this week that the government seems more interested in ensuring that free line dancing and yoga classes are offered at Christmas Island than ensuring our borders are protected from unauthorized arrivals,” he said.

Mr Morrison also said Senate Estimates had revealed that when preparing the 2009/10 Budget, Labor believed just 200 people would arrive illegally by boat this financial year under their policies.

"After 1,000 people had turned up by last October, they thought only another 400 would come and asked for an additional $132 million to cover the cost,” he said.

"With this latest boat, well over 2,600 people have now illegally arrived and been taken to Christmas Island. The Government will need to ask for another $100 million and the rest, by the time the year is done.

"It's simply unbelievable that the Rudd Government fails to understand what has always been clear to the Australian people, that their policies are acting as a magnet for people smugglers.

"On Mr Rudd's watch, Christmas Island has become a visa factory for people smugglers.”

Mr Morrison and Mr Keenan will join Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott at Darwin today to reiterate the Coalition's commitment to border protection and offshore processing of asylum seekers.

“With Christmas Island overflowing, Darwin will soon become the next destination for illegal arrivals under Labor's soft policies,” Mr Morrison said.

"The Coalition has a clear border protection record and it is a record we will prove once again, if elected to government.”

Media Release : Shire residents warned of foil insulation dangers

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison today urged Shire residents who have had foil insulation installed as part of the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program to arrange a safety inspection as soon as possible after it was revealed their homes could have become electrified.

“Shire residents who have had foil insulation fitted to their homes under the scheme should contact a licensed electrician to conduct a safety inspection and where necessary fix the problem. Do not check the insulation yourself,” Mr Morrison said.

“The government will also write to affected homes with details of their own inspection scheme and a hotline number has also been set up to find out more. It can be reached by calling 131 792.

“Tragically four people have died installing the insulation under the Rudd Government’s program, a program which has been astonishingly mismanaged by Environment Minister Peter Garrett from day one.

“Minister Garrett ignored 13 separate warnings and waited for almost 12 months to acknowledge the electrical and fire risk facing homeowners and installers with foil insulation despite warnings from electricians.

“The National Electrical and Communications Association wrote to him in March last year and warned, that while thermal insulation in ceilings is a relatively inexpensive way of reducing energy consumption in residential premises, ‘…there are inherent dangers when installed inappropriately near electrical equipment and cables.’

“It has also been revealed that his department was warned by state officials last April that the program of pink batt and aluminium foil installation was going to take place in an unregulated way that would be a risk to property and to life. Alarmingly, there is no evidence that any serious action was taken despite the gravity of this warning.

“The pattern of denial from Minister Garrett over this clear risk to Shire homeowners is staggering and points to a clear incompetence in the management of his portfolio.

“This is a Minister who has been responsible for a program that when put into action has seen people die. It is a gross failure of responsibility and he should be held to account.

“Bungling has become typical of the Rudd Government as a result of its reckless debt fuelled spending sprees which have now resulted in a program that has not just been incompetent, but deadly,” Mr Morrison said.

***Federal Government insulation hotline 131 792***

Media Release : Rudd fails national security

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The Rudd Government put political expedience above national security in their special deal on the Oceanic Viking, based on evidence presented at Senate Estimates, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“It is clear from the evidence presented at Senate Estimates that the only reason refugees given adverse security assessment by ASIO were transferred from Indonesia to Australia was because of Kevin Rudd’s special deal for the Oceanic Viking,” Mr Morrison said.

“The decision to transfer those with an adverse security assessment was made by the National Security Committee of which the Prime Minister was a member,” he said.

“Officials confirmed that it was not usual practice to transfer refugees who had been given an adverse security clearance by ASIO, from another country to Australia. Worse still, the security implications do not appear to have been considered in deciding whether to enter into an agreement with the Indonesian Government to offer those on the Oceanic Viking a special deal.

“It is clear from this that the Government sought and secured an arrangement with Indonesia that required Australia to take responsibility for people they knew nothing about, without any regard for potential security risks.

“National security was traded for the PM’s own political expediency.

“This was highly unusual and occurred with the direct sign off of senior Cabinet Minsters as well as the Prime Minister’s own National Security Adviser. Yet Mr Rudd and Government officials continue to deny he had any knowledge of the deal.

“Mr Rudd told the Parliament on 29 October, that the National Security Adviser answers to him. It is extraordinary that the Prime Minister would not seek to be advised by his own National Security adviser on the security implication of the special deal offered to the Indonesian Government for those on board the Oceanic Viking.

“If this is true, how could the Prime Minister fail to inform himself and allow such a trade off of Australia’s national security interests to be compromised without getting involved.

“The Prime Minister and the Government has failed the most important test of national Government – national security,” Mr Morrison said.

A summary of key outcomes revealed at Senate Estimates is noted below:

• The four Tamil refugees given an adverse assessment by ASIO were transferred to Australia because of the special deal done with Indonesia for the passengers on board the Oceanic Viking

• Officials confirmed that transferring UNHCR mandated refugees with adverse security assessment from Indonesia to Australia was not usual.

• The special deal was signed off by the Border Protection Committee of Cabinet, chaired by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

• The National Security Adviser or their deputy attended every one of these meetings.

• The Government continued to deny the PM had any knowledge of the contents of the special deal, despite the fact his Foreign Minster, Immigration Minister and National Security Adviser had approved the terms.

• The Minister and officials denied that any suggestion, discussion or agreement was made with respect to Australian responsibility for asylum seekers at the Port of Merak, in the course of the negotiation in relation to the Oceanic Viking

• DIAC was able to develop a manifest of the passengers before they left the vessel.

• ASIO had no access to the passengers to enable any assessment to be made of any risk that may present itself of people on board the vessel if the Australian Government undertook to take responsibility for them.

• Once the adverse security assessments were determined, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship was advised.

• The decision to transfer the 4 Tamil refugees to Australia was made by the National Security Committee, whose membership included the Prime Minister and the National Security Adviser.

• The refugees with adverse security findings are now held in the general population of the detention and alternative detention facilities at Phosphate Hill and Construction camp sites on Christmas Island.

Blog Post : You can’t debate immigration without being called a racist

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Blog Post

You can’t debate immigration without being called a racist

Last week I returned from a visit to Christmas Island to Parliament where the Labor Member MP, John Sullivan, from Longman in Brisbane, interjected during a speech and called me a racist.

At the time, I was speaking to an Appropriations Bill that was seeking additional funds to make up for shortfalls in this year’s budget. Included in these shortfalls was $132 million for off shore processing of asylum seekers. We were supporting the Bill.

I noted that the 100 per cent plus blow out in costs demonstrated the Government had failed to appreciate the impact of their policy changes on the detention population on Christmas Island, that is now at unsustainable levels.

Apparently, criticising the government’s poor budget management these days is also grounds for being called a racist by Labor MPs.

Reflecting on John’s classy contribution, it occurred to me just how lazy arguments against stronger border protection can become. Rather than engage in the debate, some self appropriate piety and indulge in moral hectoring as a substitute.

It would seem easier for some to think that those who don’t agree with them are simply evil racists and unable to comprehend, let alone share, their own self assessed high minded capacity for human compassion, than listen to what they have to say.

The pro-boats doctrine pedalled by some and adopted in practice by the Rudd Government has no monopoly on concern for the world’s dispossessed. To suggest otherwise is simply arrogant. Here are some things to think about.

There are reports that more than one hundred Afghans – men, women and children – perished at sea last year in their bid to come to Australia. Their families in Brisbane will probably never know what happened to them. They’re still waiting for the call.

Where are the public protests about the fate of these 105 Afghans and the policies that encouraged them to get on that boat? We have no idea how many others have died on vessels that never arrived.

We do know that last November 12 people drowned after their boat sunk west of the Cocos Islands, and on Saturday afternoon 45 people were rescued after drifting for four days without food or water.

And then there were five people who were killed when their boat, SIEV36, was set alight and dozens more injured, also in an attempt to gain entry to Australia.

In each case people smugglers profit. The ticket price is between $5,000 and $20,000 per passenger.

Some will say, but what about those who arrive by air? Well, when was the last time you heard of an asylum seeker drowning on board a 747?

Then there are those in refugee camps.

Around 140,000 Burmese refugees are in nine camps along the Thai-Burma border. They began arriving there in the early eighties. Today people who were born in these camps are now raising their own children there, where rape, domestic violence and substance abuse are commonplace.

During the past five years Australia has granted almost nine thousand off shore humanitarian visas to Burmese refugees. This enjoys bi partisan support. I have no issue with taking 13,500 people under our humanitarian programme each year.

Where we differ is allowing places in our humanitarian programme to be exhausted by those who pay for the services of people smugglers in preference to those offshore in camps. I believe it violates our sense of fairness.

While there are many other reasons, saving lives and helping those who will never be able to pay a people smugglers ransom to come to Australia, strike me as good reasons to stop the illegal arrival of boats coming to Australia.

Since the Rudd Government started rolling back the border protection regime inherited from the Coalition in August 2008, 79 boats have illegally arrived carrying more than 3,600 passengers.

Not even the monsoon and the threat of cyclones have been able to overwhelm the magnetic impact of the Rudd Government’s failed border protection policies. This summer, 23 boats have illegally arrived in our waters, compared to just four during the same period last year.

Rather than take action, the Rudd Government has been content to blame the rest of the world and hope the problem will just go away. Worse still, they cynically hope we will just get used to it.

Faced with an overflowing Christmas Island, the Rudd Government has already rolled over and transferred people directly to the mainland from Christmas Island before assessment of their asylum claims has been completed.

This not only sends the worst possible message to people smugglers, but it opens up murky legal ground regarding the status of individuals transferred. It only takes one judge in one court with jurisdiction to hear a case and the dominoes will fall.

And then there was the Government’s special deal for the Oceanic Viking. Mr Rudd guaranteed fast track processing, spent Australia’s diplomatic favours around the world to guarantee resettlement and most significantly compromised our national security by bringing four people rejected by our security agencies to Australian territory. This is simply unforgivable.

Mr Rudd still maintains the Oceanic Viking arrangement was ‘non-extraordinary’. He should try telling that to the 200 plus people sitting in the port at Merak, the Indonesian Government who no longer trust us on these issues and, for that matter, the 140,000 refugees in Thailand.

The Rudd Government blinked and have now lost control.

The Coalition had no such difficulty when it came to dealing decisively with these issues in Government. Our views and resolve have not changed.

We will not compromise the off shore processing regime. While Nauru and Manus are closed, if necessary, other alternative options will be found. Boats will be turned back if circumstances allow, as Mr Rudd promised he would do. And we will begin the work of recalibrating the policy settings unravelled by Labor, starting with the creation of a new temporary safe haven visa.

Some will not like these policies, but people smugglers will understand them. You will also be spared the hypocrisy of the Rudd Government pretending to be one thing while failing to be another.

Cook's bLog is also published on The Punch where you can join the on line conversation by clicking here

Media Release : Labor dodges tough decisions on migration and boats

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The Rudd Government has dodged the tough decisions on migration reform by refusing to address the declining proportion of skills migration to Australia and their failures on border protection, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“This year the number of people migrating to Australia under the family program will increase by more than 20% from the levels set by the Coalition. At the same time the proportion of skilled migration will fall below two thirds of our total intake,” Mr Morrison said.

“The Rudd Government is playing musical chairs with skilled migration, but failing to guarantee that a larger proportion of our annual intake in the future will be dedicated to skills migration,” he said.

“Even worse, the Government continues to ignore their failures on border protection that have seen more than 3,600 people arrive illegally on 79 boats since Labor changed the laws on protection visas.

“Labor is more interested in stopping skilled migrants who are coming to pay tax than stopping boats illegally arriving in Australian waters.

“Just today it has been revealed that Labor has once again compromised our off shore processing system by bringing asylum seekers who had illegally arrived in Australian waters directly to the mainland, before their asylum claims have been tested.

“The Rudd Government’s actions totally undermine the effectiveness of our off shore processing as a deterrent to people smugglers. Once again, the Rudd Government has gone the soft option on boat arrivals.

“Labor has very poor form on skilled migration. Last time Labor was in Government skilled migration fell to less than 30% of our annual migration programme. It took 12 years for the Coalition to rebuild this proportion to about 70%.

“If Labor was committed to skilled migration, they would guarantee that the future intake will stay above at least two thirds. This requires some hard decision on the family programme, and tightening up on the claims in this area.

“The Rudd Government says they want to crack down on skilled migrants, 97% of who had jobs and paid taxes under the Coalition, while allowing the family programme to blow out year on year, without so much of a whisper of reform.

“While we will wait to see the details of Labor’s proposals it is already clear that there will be many students who will be caught between a rock and a hard place, while private colleges, especially in Victoria will come under significant pressure, with many jobs at stake.

“How Labor manages the transition will be the test. At risk is our international reputation as a desired destination for skilled migration and the many jobs at stake in the private education sector,” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : Opinion Article, Sun Herald/National Times: Rocking the asylum boats

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

TEN days ago I stood on the shore at Flying Fish Cove on Christmas Island watching 30 Afghan asylum seekers transfer from HMAS Larrakia into the custody of immigration officials.

Their boat was one of two that had been "intercepted" within 12 hours of each other the previous weekend. It's usually not too hard to find these boats, because they are usually looking for us. Getting intercepted is the point. Christmas Island is no longer a deterrent, it's the destination.

The arrival of another boat is not a strange sight. It occurs twice a week these days. They're more predictable than Sydney ferries.

Immigration, Customs officials and police have the transfer process down to a fine art. They should, they've been getting plenty of practice. Since August 2008, 78 boats have illegally arrived in Australian waters, carrying almost 3600 people. Just this year, there have been 10 arrivals at an average rate of 100 passengers per week.

When I left the island I was told they had 1848 beds (including 200 in tents) and there was currently 1556 people in residence. While this represented a ten-fold increase in the detention population over the past year, it was clear, things were only getting worse.

Since then another 320 people have been intercepted or transferred to the island, including one large vessel, carrying 181 passengers that motored straight into the harbour. Another was picked up on Thursday morning near the Ashmore Islands. During the same time, only 89 people left the island.

Despite its denials, operations at Christmas Island, under the government's failed border protection policies, are simply not sustainable. It is therefore no surprise that last week I was able to reveal in Parliament that the costs of running operations on Christmas Island had blown out by $132million this year, that's more than a 100per cent increase.

We are a generous nation and this is reflected in the way asylum seekers are being treated. In fact, if we looked after our first Australians in central Australia, where I visited last year, as well as we do those on Christmas Island, then there would be no gap to close. The key difference is that within 100 or so days, the vast majority of those on Christmas Island will be living on the Australian mainland with a permanent visa. Indigenous children have no such guarantee of ever being released from their desperate situation.

One of the more pleasing elements of the visit was to see that the many reforms introduced by the former Coalition government, such as case management, parallel processing, community detention for those at risk, separate facilities for families, women and children and a range of other improvements, are making a real difference.

In fact there is not one practical reform you can point to on Christmas Island that has been introduced as an initiative of the current government.

Where they have made changes is to undermine the fundamentals of our border protection regime, by providing permanent visas to those arriving illegally, doing special deals for the Oceanic Viking passengers that traded away national security and being prepared to compromise offshore processing by taking people to the mainland before their asylum claims have been determined.

The government's changes have enhanced the product offered by people smugglers. They are now doing a roaring trade, but you can only come if you have the money. It is not uncommon, as I saw, for those arriving to have wads of cash in various currencies, in excess of $US1000 ($1140) at least. This is after paying up to $20,000 per person. Residence in Australia should not be driven by the highest bidder, where people smugglers ultimately decide who comes.

The government's changes have created a sea highway to Christmas Island that has become a visa factory for people smugglers.

As long as these policies remain and the government continues in denial, people will continue to risk their lives on this journey. Also, places for those waiting five years in Indonesia and generations in camps, like those in Thailand, will be asked to wait even longer. These seem to me to be good reasons to change these policies and stop the boats.

This article was published in the Sun Herald and National Time online on Sunday February, 7, 2010

Media Release : Rescue mission highlights why we must stop the boats

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison has expressed concern for the 45 people reported to be on board a distressed vessel south west of Christmas Island, that has been the subject of a rescue mission by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

“This boat is reported to have been drifting for days without food and water, putting at risk the lives of the 45 people on board. It highlights once again just how perilous this voyage is and why we need to do all we can to prevent people taking these extreme risks,” Mr Morrison said

“While there is natural sympathy for people seeking a better life for themselves and their families, strong borders and strong immigration processes play an important role in protecting people from what can be fatal decisions,” he said.

“Last October there were reportedly 105 Afghans who set out from Indonesia for Australia that have never been heard from again. We will probably never know.

“In addition, in November, a boat carrying 39 Sri Lankans sunk west of the Cocos islands, where a dozen people are believed to have lost their lives.

“The Coalition believes we must frame polices to make sure that getting on a boat to Australia is not worth the risk. This is one of the key reasons why the Coalition is so strongly committed to tougher border protection.

“At the moment too many people are prepared to take this risk. This summer, in the midst of the monsoon and cyclone season, we have now had 23 boats arrive. Last year there was just four.

“We fear that until there is a change in the Government’s position on border protection, we will continue to see even more boats set out to illegally arrive in Australian waters. Some of these will never reach their destination,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Trancript - ABC - Lateline

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: If the first sitting week of this election year showed us anything, it's that the climate change debate didn't lose any heat over the long summer break. The new Coalition Leader Tony Abbott released a policy to deal with what last year he labelled "absolute crap" and with the polls tightening the Government wasted no time in attacking it.

For our first Friday forum of the year, I'm joined in our Sydney studio by Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen and the shadow immigration minister, Scott Morrison.

Good to have you both with us. Welcome to Lateline for 2010.

SCOTT MORRISON, SHADOW IMMIGRATION MINISTER: Good to be back. Hi, Leigh.

LEIGH SALES: Kevin Rudd says that of the 8.8 million families in Australia, 8.1 million will be compensated. So Chris Bowen, why are 700,000 Australians carrying the load for the whole and who are they?

CHRIS BOWEN, FINANCIAL SERVICES MINISTER: Well, we are putting every dollar raised by the CPRS into compensation for families and for businesses to make sure that we ease the burden.

LEIGH SALES: That's not the question, though, is it?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, I'm getting to the question, Leigh. But we are maximising the compensation at the lower end of the spectrum, the income spectrum. We make no apologies for that. Of those 8.8 million Australian households, as you say, 8.1 million receive compensation. Almost three million households, low-income households, on average will be about $190 a year better because the ...

LEIGH SALES: Does that mean the 700,000 high-income families?

CHRIS BOWEN: Yes. Yes, it does.

LEIGH SALES: So why should they bear the disproportionate load?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, because we do have a progressive system in Australia and because there is a cost to be paid from dealing with climate change. I know the Opposition says you can deal with it at no cost. We don't. We are upfront with people. And so there's a cost to be paid. We will ease the transition. We will make sure that we compensate people at the lower and middle-income level, but there will be high-income earners who aren't compensated. We've said that upfront from day one and we make no apologies for overcompensating at the lower end of the spectrum of the income spectrum to make sure that nobody is worse off at that lower end.

LEIGH SALES: But you point out that we have a progressive system. So rich people pay more tax already. You're looking to means test the private health rebate. Why should these people have another burden in terms of bearing the cost of your ETS?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, these things are always a balance and we always look carefully at these decisions when we make decisions about means testing. We always look very carefully at the distributional analysis. We always bear in mind the total picture. For example, there have been tax cuts at the upper end of the income spectrum under both the previous government and us, and that's appropriate. But you've got to balance these things, and when you're making a change, you always make sure that people in low and middle incomes in particular won't be worse off.

LEIGH SALES: OK. Scott Morrison, let's talk about your new policy. It has to be funded by something. Is it going to be higher taxes or government spending cuts?

SCOTT MORRISON: It's $3.2 billion out of $1.3 trillion. I mean, that's a day at the office for savings for a Coalition government. We're talking about a rounding error here. And let me make this point.

LEIGH SALES: So savings, what do you mean savings, then: cuts in government spending will it be?

SCOTT MORRISON: Savings within the budget. I mean, it's $3.2 billion over a massive budget over a period of three years. I mean, $3.2 billion; let's just put it comparison. We're going to spend $20 billion on interest payments in the next three years. $20 billion in interest payments courtesy of the debt incurred by this government. Now that puts our policy, you know, which is going to fund the greatest moral challenge. Now if that's the greatest moral challenge, I assume paying back debt must be the Government's greatest moral challenge.

But can I pick up something that was said earlier, though? I mean, the Government is not going to fully compensate 8.1 million Australians. In fact, 6 million Australians are not going to be fully compensated. Nineteen per cent increases in electricity prices and if you're earning anything over more than about $60,000 or $65,000, then you'll be worse off and the Government won't guarantee they won't be worse off.

LEIGH SALES: Let me stick to your policy.

SCOTT MORRISON: Sure.

LEIGH SALES: You talk about savings are going to be easy to find. OK, your portfolio, Immigration: where are the savings there? Fewer boat patrols?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, I'll go back to my old portfolio when I was in Housing and the first homesavers' accounts. I mean, that program is massively under-subscribed. I mean, if the Government doesn't think that it could find $3.2 billion of savings in a budget of that size - $1.3 trillion over three years - then they should give the game away. They clearly don't know how to manage a budget. That's how we reduced a debt from $96 billion to zero. That's how we delivered surpluses.

CHRIS BOWEN: That was a commodity boom actually. It was actually a commodity boom.

SCOTT MORRISON: It was all the mining boom! It was all external forces! Of course it was, Chris. I know that's your narrative. But the fact is: we managed the budget; we know how to manage budgets. That's what we do; that's what we will do to pay for this policy.

CHRIS BOWEN: Cut foreign aid perhaps or public service cuts?

SCOTT MORRISON: No, that's been ruled out - you know that.

LEIGH SALES: Chris Bowen, I asked you before about cost and you immediately responded by talking about compensation. Penny Wong was on this program last night; she did the same thing, by my count, 13 times. I interviewed Julia Gillard late last year - same thing. How can viewers interpret that reaction to questions about cost when you instantly switch to compensation as anything other than you've got something to hide about the costs?

CHRIS BOWEN: No, we're being upfront; we're saying there are costs. We've said that from the beginning. We've said the costs of dealing with climate change are less than the costs of not dealing with climate change. But we've said there are costs. Tony Abbott and Scott and his team say, "We can fix this with no cost." Now, that is frankly being dishonest with the Australian people. We're not. We've been upfront and said there are cost, but there's also compensation. Now, ...

SCOTT MORRISON: Not for everyone. Not for everyone.

LEIGH SALES: But Scott Morrison, they have said that there are costs.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, there are costs. We're spending $3.2 billion - you know, how much they'll be spending on ...

CHRIS BOWEN: To let emissions go up.

LEIGH SALES: Are you being honest about the costs?

SCOTT MORRISON: On electricity generators alone they plan to hand out $2.7 billion over three years under their scheme. Now that's more than our actual fund, and they say that it's only polluters who'll pay under our scheme. They will be paying - the electricity generators - $2.7 billion.

CHRIS BOWEN: Yeah, but you're not going to require any reduction in emissions.

SCOTT MORRISON: $2.7 billion over three years.

CHRIS BOWEN: You're not going to require any reduction in emissions.

SCOTT MORRISON: We will be giving them incentives to reduce their emissions and we're going specific with direct action on specific power stations. You're spending 1 per cent on direct action. 1 per cent!

LEIGH SALES: I asked Chris Bowen about cost and trust and how could people trust. How can people trust you when you're coming up with a policy that is so much less than the Government's policy?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, their money is a money-go-round. Basically they tax it all and then they hand it all back out, and they spend virtually nothing on actual direct action programs. So we avoid all of that and we say, "Let's go and work on carbon in the soil. Let's go and plant some trees. Let's go put some solar panels on roofs and schools and homes and let's go out there and actually give people incentives to reduce emissions directly in things like power stations and the like." That's called direct action. I know the Government's not keen on direct action. They would like to immerse all of this in a massive bureaucracy and a massive tax and spend machine. That's what their system is. If they think that's a better way to do it, well you explain it to the Australian people. I think they understand what we're saying.

LEIGH SALES: Chris Bowen, the ETS is back before the Parliament this week. We all know that the chance of it getting through the Senate is negligible. What happens then?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, we have said that we have put this to the Senate repeatedly because this is so important. This is so important to the future of the planet and the environment and we will continue to argue vigorously for this.

LEIGH SALES: But it's probably not going to get through, is it?

CHRIS BOWEN: But, look, the odds are long because of the recalcitrance of the Opposition, despite the fact that two months ago the majority in the partyroom, and presumably Scott was one, voted for the ETS. And Scott has said previously in the Parliament that he thinks an ETS is part of the toolbox and it should be there and now he's changed his tune.

SCOTT MORRISON: Not yours though. I never said yours! I never said yours! Never said yours!

CHRIS BOWEN: Now you've change your tune to fit the new leader. You've changed your tune dramatically.

LEIGH SALES: I'll ask you about that in a minute, but what happens when your ETS doesn't get through the Senate?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, look, we have to abide by the decision of the Senate, but nevertheless we'll continue to argue that an emissions trading scheme and a CPRS is important for Australia.

LEIGH SALES: Will it be dead at that stage?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, look, we'll - we'll of course have to accept the decision of the Parliament, but nevertheless it remains our position that when you're dealing with climate change, a CPRS is a very important part of it.

Now, the Opposition, as I say, thinks that they can have a placebo, that they can just have, "We'll have direct action." This is direct action that their own report, the Shergold Report, found would not work. This is direct action that the Wilkins report found was wasteful and simply wouldn't work. This is a placebo from a party which is in cahoots with the nuttiest elements of the extreme climate change denial right. And that's what we're getting from Tony Abbott.

SCOTT MORRISON: Don't forget witch burnings.

LEIGH SALES: Well, let me put to you, Scott Morrison, picking up on that point. Barnaby Joyce earlier in this week on the program said that he had doubts in certain areas about climate change, but that there's a general feeling people want action. So to pick up on Chris Bowen's point, has he let the cat out of the bag there that this isn't a plan that the Coalition believes in, but of political convenience?

SCOTT MORRISON: No, I think that's putting words in to his mouth. It's a plan for action. It's a plan to put trees in the ground. It's a plan to put solar panels on roofs. It's a plan to actually do things that are going to be constructive rather than a great big tax.

LEIGH SALES: Well, did you vote for the ETS and you've now had a change of heart?

SCOTT MORRISON: Sorry?

LEIGH SALES: Did you vote for the ETS in the party room and you've now had a change of heart? Were you lined up with Malcolm?

SCOTT MORRISON: We voted against the ETS twice in the House of Representatives. I spoke against it twice in the House of Representatives.

CHRIS BOWEN: What about in the party room?

LEIGH SALES: In the party room when you were looking to change leaders and the option was staying with Malcolm Turnbull and the ETS or switching, what was your decisions and have you now had a change of heart with this new policy?

SCOTT MORRISON: I have always had reservations about the Government's scheme. I mean, that's why we wanted to change the Government's scheme. And the Government at the end of the day frankly want to persist with that scheme and it's a scheme that Australians don't want because they see it for what it is, which is a great big tax.

LEIGH SALES: Is this a good point that Scott Morrison makes, that their policy is quite easy to understand and it's easy to explain to the Australian people. And then now, you know, many months after you've first brought out your ETS, people still don't really understand it?

CHRIS BOWEN: That's true to this degree, Leigh: the Liberal Party have decided to put their own political self-interest ahead of the future of the planet. They have decided in the battle between complex truths and simple lies to side with simple lies. That gives them an advantage. I accept that. That doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. It means it's the easier political thing to do. It means it's the opportunistic thing to do. It does provide us with political challenges. I do accept that point. But it's a challenge that we're up to because it is such an important issue that we are engaged in a conversation with the Australian people about the complex truths of climate change: the fact that it's real and the fact that there is a cost to dealing with it. The Opposition is squibbing it for their own political purposes.

SCOTT MORRISON: This is the problem I think the Government has: they want to turn this into a moral debate about climate change. It's a simple debate about two plans - two plans: one for direct action, one for a great big tax. People can make their choice.

LEIGH SALES: Alright. Let's whip around a few other things that I want to discuss. Scott Morrison, according to the polls, the Coalition is no longer preferred as economic manager over Labor. Is having Barnaby Joyce as Finance Minister really going to help you regain that mantle?

SCOTT MORRISON: I think one of Barnaby's great virtues, as I've said on this program before, is he's a very authentic individual. What Barnaby has talked about is this: is there are some very practical decisions that we have to take in order to manage a budget. Now Barnaby's used to managing budgets from his own experience prior to coming into the Parliament, and these are the issues he's canvassing. He may not be canvassing them in the way that people in the commentariat like, but ...

LEIGH SALES: Does he belong in a key economic role on the frontbench?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, of course he does. That's why he's there.

LEIGH SALES: When people look at Barnaby Joyce vs. his Government counterpart Lindsay Tanner, who do you think that they trust more?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, if I look at Lindsay Tanner, he's the one who's run up the biggest amount of spending in our country's history and is throwing us into the biggest amount of debt that the country has ever been into. So, I think Australians will make their judgement on Lindsay very harshly as a result.

LEIGH SALES: Let me stick with Barnaby Joyce for now, but I will come back to that point in a moment. Chris Bowen, the Government jumped on Barnaby Joyce this week; in fact Lindsay Tanner called him the "bearded lady" of Australian politics. But do you and the media risk turning all politicians into grey robots if we jump on the ones who occasionally deviate from the line?

CHRIS BOWEN: It's not about deviating from the line, Leigh. This is about a person in a very senior economic portfolio who gets fundamental economics incorrect. Now the Australian people face a choice later in the year. It's a choice about who they trust with the Australian economy: Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan, who saw us through the global financial crisis as one of the world's best-performing economies, or Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey and Barnaby Joyce? Now can you imagine Barnaby Joyce sitting in the Finance Minister's chair in those 72 hours following the collapse of Lehmann Brothers when the Australian economy was on the brink? Can you imagine Barnaby Joyce in charge? That's one of the questions.

LEIGH SALES: Would you be comfortable with that Scott Morrison?

SCOTT MORRISON: Of course I would and I don't have to imagine what this Government was like in that chair, because what I saw this Government do is embark on the greatest spending binge we've ever seen in this country in peace time. And we're going to be paying for binge for programs in 2012 that are supposed to get us out of a recession in 2008.

CHRIS BOWEN: A recession we avoided.

SCOTT MORRISON: It was all down to you, wasn't it? You guys, you're supermen. You were absolute supermen.

CHRIS BOWEN: Australia avoided, the Government avoided, business avoided and Australians avoided.

SCOTT MORRISON: You're going to make the sun come up tomorrow as well, I'm sure. Very talented.

CHRIS BOWEN: The question is would Barnaby Joyce - would you trust Barnaby Joyce in that chair?

SCOTT MORRISON: Of course I would! Of course I would. I don't trust your mob - that's my problem.

LEIGH SALES: Let's pick up on some of the economic points and some of the points you've made, Scott Morrison, there. We have seen some economic news around the world this week that's a little bit pessimistic. We saw the Reserve hold on interest rates for the time being. Doesn't that show that the Government is right to not wind back the stimulus too quickly?

SCOTT MORRISON: I think it shows that it's important that we keep interest rates low. We had three successive interest rate rises over the back part of last year. And I think the pressure that is put into the system about the Government's excessive spending is going to put further pressure on interest rates. Remember, interest rates flow through to everybody. They flow through to small business; they flow through to families; they flow through to households. These people end up paying more for interest rates. We're already seeing the cost of living going up. We don't need anything more added to that because this Government wants to spend before an election.

LEIGH SALES: The Reserve's anticipating raising interest rates perhaps three more times before the end of the year. That's going to be less than ideal for the Rudd Government, isn't it, in an election campaign?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, of course, Leigh, I don't have the luxury of speculating on what the Reserve Bank does, but they have indicated that they see interest rates at historic lows - of course they are. They've increased them by 75 basis points. They're still 350 basis points lower than they were. So, fiscal policy will be more contractionary in all likelihood than monetary policy over the next 12 months. The Reserve Bank have indicated, if you like, a tightening tendency from here, but monetary policy will still be quite expansionary and appropriately so, and we will deal with the politics of that as a secondary issue. You've got to deal with the policy first.

LEIGH SALES: There was a story on the front page of The Australian newspaper today about a business that's had to let some young employees go because it can't give them the minimum shifts required under the Fair Work laws, even though the kids actually don't want longer shifts. Julia Gillard says that there are some options in the legislation that I think it's possible that we can work through this and make arrangements with the employer. Are you going to have to make arrangements with every individual employer who finds your Fair Work legislation not flexible enough?

CHRIS BOWEN: No, look, I know Scott's about to embark on a defence of WorkChoices, but WorkChoices was voted on at the last election. Now my understanding is that there is enough flexibility for those sorts of situations.

SCOTT MORRISON: I'm going to surprise you, (inaudible). I'm going to surprise you.

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, you'll be the only one. You might have to resign from the frontbench if you're not going to defend WorkChoices, because you'll be breaching party policy and you'll be not very popular.

SCOTT MORRISON: I don't know where you've been the last two years, but anyway, I'll let you make the point.

CHRIS BOWEN: You won't be very popular with your new leader. But we have flexibility in the system. You need to strike a balance. You can't have employees being called in for half an hour and being forced to work and then sent home. You need to strike that balance. But obviously you need the flexiiblity.

LEIGH SALES: But I wonder how many more of these cases are out there that could be just dribbling out (inaudible)?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, look, the new law's been in place for some time. This is the first one of these cases that we've heard about. I'm sure it'll be worked through in a sensible way. There's enough flexibility in the system. Julia Gillard has said that. We do have those mechanisms in place and a sensible outcome needs to be reached.

LEIGH SALES: Scott Morrison?

SCOTT MORRISON: Kevin Rudd said no worker would be worse off under their scheme. Today he said on 3AW in Melbourne that oh no, that was just a principle and he could never give that guarantee. Well, if Kevin Rudd can't keep that promise from the last election, I don't know why anyone would believe he'll keep his promises at this one.

LEIGH SALES: Gentlemen, we're out of time. Chris Bowen, Scott Morrison, thank you very much for coming in.

CHRIS BOWEN: Great to be with you.

SCOTT MORRISON: Thanks, Leigh. Thanks, Chris.

Multimedia : ABC Lateline Youtube video

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click HERE to read the transcript

Media Release : Rudd's Christmas Island revolving door as another boat arrives

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The interception of yet another illegal boat, the tenth this year, shows Christmas Island has become a revolving door under the Rudd Government’s failed border protection policies, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Barely a day after 89 asylum seekers were flown to the Australian mainland in a futile effort to reduce overcrowding on Christmas Island, another 89 asylum seekers plus three crew are on the way to take their place,” Mr Morrison said.

“Seventy eight boats have now arrived since the Rudd Government started weakening the border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition Government, with 10 arriving this year alone with 602 people on board,” he said.

“It is also outrageous the government chose to release this information minutes after parliament rose today in a pathetic bid to avoid accountability for their border protection failures. The government is clearly sensitive to their failures in this area, it’s about time they faced up to them.

“Christmas Island has become a visa factory under this government, with people smugglers dictating who arrives in this country while profiting from their miserable and dangerous trade. As soon as asylum seekers are transferred off the island the Rudd Government’s policies have ensured that there more to come and take their place.

“The Rudd Government’s answer to their failed border protection polices is to buy more beds and tents on Christmas Island and transfer asylum seekers whose claims have not been settled to the mainland. This is far from the tough decisions needed to stop the boats.

“The arrival comes as it was revealed in parliament that the Rudd Government’s budget for offshore processing on Christmas Island has blown out by $132 million.

“In the May budget the Rudd Government had allocated $125 million for offshore processing. However additional estimates figures reveal the government is now asking for another $132 million for this work, an increase of more than 100%.

“The Coalition will not compromise our policy of offshore detention and would seek alternatives in Government if required. While Manus Island and Nauru are now closed and not under consideration, it is the Government’s job to find alternative solutions.

“Only strong and determined action can bring the boats to a halt and restore the public’s confidence in the strength of our border protection system,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Christmas Island budget blows out by $132 million

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison has revealed a $132 million blow out in the Rudd Government’s budget for offshore processing at Christmas Island in parliament.

“In the May budget the Rudd Government had allocated $125 million for offshore processing. In the detail of the additional estimates, the government is now asking for another $132 million for this work, an increase of more than 100%,” Mr Morrison said.

“In 2009/10 we will now be spending $257 million on this work, $143.7 million or 126% more than last year,” he said.

The cost blow outs include:

• An extra $26 million or a 58% increase in payments to contractors

• An extra $72 million or a 178% increase for departmental expense

• New expenditure of $34 million for capital works, for additional demountable accommodation on the Island.

“What is even more extraordinary is that they are budgeting next year for a 38% cut in expenditure in the area. Even keeping the budget at current levels to meet current demand, would mean a budget shortfall of $370m over the next three years. Combined with this year’s blowout, this represents under budgeting by Labor of more than half a billion dollars.

“Since July 1 last year, 53 boats have illegally arrived in Australian waters carrying 2,441 passengers to be transferred to Christmas Island. After just seven months, this is more than double the number of boats that arrived in 2008/2009 carrying 1,039 passengers.

“The Rudd Government’s answer to their failed border protection polices is just to buy more beds and tents, rather than take tough decisions to stop the boats, as they promised.

“The Rudd Government has already rolled over to people smugglers by transferring people to the mainland whose refugee claims have not been determined. Yesterday, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration confirmed they would continue this policy, with Christmas Island being overrun.

“The Coalition has made it clear we will not compromise our policy of offshore detention and would seek alternatives in Government if required. While Manus Island and Nauru are now closed and not under consideration, it is the Government’s job to find alternative solutions.

“The Rudd Government has gone for the soft option once again and made Australia a soft touch as a result.

“Under the Coalition’s policies we had 18 boat arrivals in our last 6 years. The Rudd Government has had 18 arrivals in the last 8 weeks. These outcomes speak volumes for the Rudd Government’s border protection failures,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Transcript - Sky News Playing Politics

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: Coalition's plan for Direct Action on Environment and Climate Change, Rudd Government’s border policy failures, Intergenerational report

E&amp;OE

ASHLEIGH GILLON: We’ll get to matters relating to your portfolio soon but first on this advice given by the Climate Change Department, it suggests that your scheme would see emissions rise in this country is that correct?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I’m not surprised that the government will come out and say the sky will fall and the seas will rise and Armageddon will be upon us if the Coalition puts out any policy. I think this is a pretty predictable response from the government, in fact their response to our policy is actually longer than the policy that they announced before the last election. So, look I just dismiss the government’s bluster as that, it’s just simple bluster. What the Prime Minister needs to answer is what will be the impact on electricity prices. Yesterday he said it would be 7% now it has been revealed that that was only for one year so I will be interested to know today whether he is prepared to come clean on what the impact on households’ budgets will be, particularly for electricity prices on his plan.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: This advice though was prepared by public servants in the Department of Climate Change, are you saying you can guarantee that emissions won’t rise under your plan?

SCOTT MORRISON: Our plan is designed to buy reductions in emissions, that’s what it does. It’s just like the government’s water buy-back scheme…

ASHLEIGH GILLON: So emissions will drop under the Coalition’s plan?

SCOTT MORRISON: This is the plan that the Coalition’s announced and that’s its intention and that’s its purpose and I am very confident about it. I’m not surprised the government would be enlisting the support of its army of public servants to come out and pick holes in our policy.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: So the advice is wrong?

SCOTT MORRISON: Look it’s predictable, this is a very predictable response from the government.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: But it’s not wrong? You are saying it’s predictable but is it wrong? It’s very different.

SCOTT MORRISON: I will allow Greg Hunt to dissect it for you but I am not surprised that the politics of this is the government will come out and say the Coalition’s plan will lead to an end of civilization as we know it. I simply dismiss it as the usual blustering tactics of an arrogant government.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: So you re dismissing it but you are not saying it is wrong Scott Morrison. You are obviously a senior member in the Coalition now, do you think this advice is wrong?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well unlike you Ashley I have not had the government’s army of media advisers coming around and putting this in front of me and convincing me of its merit. All I have heard of it is it exits. As I said it sounds like their attack on our policy is actually bigger than the policy they introduced before the last election. Three lines, three lines. emissions trading scheme, $40 million a year. They didn’t even say that much. So look I think the government has been quite hypocritical about this. I think it’s time for them to answer questions about their plan, their bill is in the parliament today. Again, that is going to have an impact on electricity prices. What will be the impact? That’s the question for the Prime Minister.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Well another question about your scheme is how exactly is it going to be funded? This morning Tony Abbott has said that foreign aid and the public service won’t be cut under the Coalition but Barnaby Joyce today wouldn’t rule anything out. Are Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott working off different pages here?

SCOTT MORRISON: No I don’t think so. We are talking about $3.2 billion out of forward estimates of $3.2 trillion. Now that is an undertaking which I am sure is entirely able to be accommodated within the forward estimates under the Coalition. Under the Coalition remember we were the ones who reduced Labor’s debt to zero. We were the ones who were able to pay off Labor’s debt, get the budget in shape and return surplus after surplus and manage our economy and our finances well. So for us finding $3.2 billion in a budget over four years is frankly an ordinary day at the office.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: But your Shadow Finance Minister has been asked pointedly will foreign aid be cut, will the public service face cut backs as well and he hasn’t been able to answer. Tony Abbott was asked today and he said, sure he would rule it out. Why are they not communicating on this?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well at the end of the day these matters will be determined by the Shadow Cabinet in terms of how policies are set and what our costings will be and where savings will be achieved. Tony has made it very clear that all of that will be made very clear to the Australian public before the next election. Now individual members will have their views about how that can be achieved, we will discuss it, that’s how a Shadow Cabinet works, that’s how a Cabinet should work and accommodating those savings I’m sure will be a very realistic challenge.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Did you see Barnaby Joyce’s address at the Press Club yesterday? What did you make of it?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I didn’t see it yesterday to be honesty because I was talking to a lot of people yesterday about the latest arrival of another boat of 181 asylum seekers on Christmas Island. So I was talking to a lot of Australians about that yesterday and so I didn’t get the chance to see Barnaby’s presentation.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Well that gives me a nice segue. We are going to talk about your portfolio of course since last August 77 boats have arrived in Australian waters, nine have arrived this year alone. Would turning the boats back as Tony Abbott suggested really work? The refugee council says that that would be a breach of international law.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it requires a suite of measures and when we were in government we had a suite of measures.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Is turning the boats back a measure the Coalition would adopt?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well its part of the suite of measures you have and that’s why I supported Tony in saying that. But it’s not the only measure. In fact that was a measure the Prime Minister, when he was in opposition just before the election, said he would do. Now I don’t know what became of that promise, probably the same as many of the other promises he has made, it’s gone by the way side. It requires a suite of measures and the things that we have said is that we would reintroduce a form of temporary visa, we’ve called it a Safe Haven Visa which meant the people who came down that path, illegally arriving in our northern waters and taken to Christmas Island and processed offshore would have access to a temporary form of visa which didn’t give them immediate access to family reunion and things of that nature. The ultimate purpose of refugee policy is that people might voluntarily return to their home and that’s what the vast majority of them want and so within that period of time you’d hope that things may have changed and they may be able to return and if not then they will be eligible to apply for a permanent visa. So we’ve announced that policy. The other thing we’ve made very clear in the last few days, and in fact the last few months to be honest, is the fact that we wouldn’t compromise on offshore processing. The government said very clearly this week, when Christmas Island is full, which it is now, they will start bringing people to the mainland whose claims have not been finalized. We won’t do that. A Coalition government won’t do that.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Back to my initial question though, is it a breach of international law to turn the boats back? I’m sure you’ve looked into that.

SCOTT MORRISON: Yeah I have. It depends where the boat is intercepted and that’s why Tony said very clearly, that if the circumstances allow for it, then that policy would be pursued. Now the circumstances allowing for it would obviously have to address issues of international law. Now the Prime Minister said the same thing when he was in opposition.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: So you can only turn the boats back if they aren’t in Australian waters? How does that work?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s basically how it works, yes. So it all depends of where the boat is intercepted. But as I said it’s not the only measure, you have to have many measures and that’s what I don’t think this government understands. They’ve changed a whole range of things and they want to single things out and say well that won’t solve the problem or that won’t solve the problem. What I do know is that when we had all these measures working in concert the boat arrivals went to zero. We had 18 boats in the last six years. They’ve had 18 boats in the last eight weeks.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Also in your portfolio, the intergenerational report was released earlier this week. Can Australia support a population of 36 million? Are you happy with that number?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I don’t think anyone knows and that’s the policy point. There is no population policy from this government, which is able to tell us what a sustainable population is for this country and that’s why the Coalition is calling for a debate.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Do you think it’s too high?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I don’t think we’re in a position to know. We don’t know what is going to be the investment in infrastructure for the next 40 years.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Well you don’t need to wait for the government to tell you that do you?

SCOTT MORRISON: No, no we need to know that as a country, what those investments are going to be. What are state governments going to do? What’s the planning process of that period of time? That’s the nature of this policy debate. What’s the carrying capacity of our environment? What will be the impact of these things on our environment? That’s the debate I think Australians want to have. Whether 36 million or 32 million or 25 million or whatever the number happens to be, it has to be a sustainable number. And this government won’t engage that debate.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: So the Coalition doesn’t have a position on whether that is too many people in Australia or not?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think it’s pre-emptive to suggest that that would be the case. Because what we have to have is a population policy which addresses how you are going to cope with an increasing population. Now if you take…

ASHLEIGH GILLON: And the Coalition doesn’t have a similar population policy?

SCOTT MORRISON: We will have a population policy and a process for determining what a sustainable population is and how that would impact on immigration levels as part of our policy releases.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: So we’ll see that before the next election?

SCOTT MORRISON: That’s our plan, to have a sustainable population policy. That’s why we’re calling on the government to have one because in terms of population policy they basically say ‘well treasury said it’s going to be 36 million so just get used to it’. Well we don’t think Australians should just get used to it. I think they expect their governments to plan for the future and to make decisions on 2010 that will have an impact on that future. All Kevin Rudd wants to do is talk about the future, not the decisions he wants to take now that will have an impact on that future.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Scott Morrison we’re out of time. Thanks for joining us today.

SCOTT MORRISON: Thanks Ashleigh.

Speech : Tribute to Hon. Bruce Baird AM

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Speech

Tribute to Hon. Bruce Baird AM

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

I rise to congratulate shire residents acknowledged in this year’s Australia Day honours list: Marcus Baker, Les Bursill, Ron Gibson, Tom Iceton, Terry Smith, Alison Thompson and Pieter van Breda.

Particularly tonight I am sure members would join me in congratulating my predecessor as the member for Cook in this place, the Hon. Bruce Baird, for his award as a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the Parliament of Australia and to the community of New South Wales through a range of business, tourism and welfare organisations. Congratulations, Bruce. Bruce served in the House of Representatives as the member of Cook for three terms from his election as a member of the Liberal Party on 3 October 1998 until his retirement from this place at the last election in November 2007.

Prior to entering federal politics, Bruce was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from March 1984 until April 1995. During this period he served as the Minister for Transport for more than seven years—indeed, he was our finest ever Minister for Transport in New South Wales—as well as serving for periods as Minister for Roads, Minister for Tourism and Minister Assisting the Premier and Minister Assisting the Treasurer.

I would say that Bruce would be the greatest Premier New South Wales never had.

Bruce played a significant role in the New South Wales Fahey government’s Olympic bid as the minister responsible, serving in that capacity between 1990 and 1993. And while much attention was focused on many others at the time of winning the bid, the true architect and the true driver over many years, working closely with Rod McGeoch, was Bruce Baird.

After leaving state politics, Bruce continued his involvement with the tourism and transport sector though his time as Managing Director of Tourism Council Australia, where I worked with Bruce for a period of time, and as chair of the National Rail Council.

As a member of the House of Representatives in this parliament, he had a very active record of participation in committees, serving as Chairman of both the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission and the Joint Select Committee on the Retailing Sector and, most significantly, as the Chair of the House Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration. Bruce participated in many parliamentary delegations and was privileged to be given the opportunity to be a parliamentary adviser at the United Nations General Assembly in New York between September and December 2006.

As Member for Cook, Bruce made a very special contribution to our community but none was greater than his efforts to heal the wounds caused by the disturbances in Cronulla in December 2005. Bruce initiated contact with community leaders from both the Sutherland Shire and the Sydney Lebanese community in the south-west. This group became known as the inter-community dialogue and worked to avoid further violent disturbances between these communities and to promote understanding and mutual respect between each of these different groups.

The Living in Harmony project that was launched by Bruce sought to bring young Australians from diverse backgrounds together through the surf-lifesaving movement. This initiative was supported by our Prime Minister at the time, John Howard, and the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, John Cobb. The effects of that hard work and effort carries on today and has flowed on into the spirit of cooperation across this chamber, evident last year when I joined with my friend the member for Blaxland to track Kokoda with these same groups of young people from our two communities.

Since retiring from the parliament, Bruce’s abilities have not gone to waste. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Tourism and Transport Forum advisory board. In addition to this work, the Rudd government recently appointed Bruce as Chair of the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council. This role certainly fits in with Bruce’s well-known and longstanding interest in the area of refugee and humanitarian resettlement policy issues and the respect that all sides of politics have for his fine work on this very sensitive but important area of public policy.

Further demonstration of the high regard that many people in Australian public life have for Bruce has been clear from his recent invitation from the Deputy Prime Minister to undertake a review into international education in Australia. Bruce has been charged with the responsibility to review education services for overseas students and to report to the government and I am confident, knowing Bruce, that he will undertake the job in a fine and fearless manner. We look forward to his report.

As I said in my maiden speech in this place, Bruce is a man of compassion, faith and integrity. I congratulate him sincerely this evening on what is very due recognition and I particularly extend my thanks to his wife Judy and his family, who are wonderful people. I thank them for the extraordinary contribution they have made to enable Bruce to be of such great service to our great country.

Speech : Cost blow outs for border protection failures

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Speech

Cost blow outs for border protection failures

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

I am happy to speak to Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2009-2010 and Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2009-2010 because my examination of these bills reveals some very interesting things in terms of the expenditure which has been incurred in the area of offshore asylum management by this government.

Before I do that, I would just associate the coalition with the comments of the member for Werriwa in relation to the family of the policeman who was killed in the line of duty. My father is a policeman and has served his entire working life as a policeman. So I am very pleased to associate the coalition with those comments.

Returning to the matter of the bills before the Committee: within Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2009-2010 there are changes to the appropriations set out in the additional estimates which were released with MYEFO late last year. They contain two major changes. In the area of the Immigration and Citizenship portfolio, there is a change to outcome 4 of the appropriation for that department which deals essentially with offshore arrangements for the processing of asylum seekers. That involves an increase of $86,264,000. Also, in Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2009-2010, there is an increase in expenditure of $34 million for capital works at Christmas Island. They are large increases which the government is asking for—$86 million and a further $34 million. But when we break it down and look at how the government actually planned for this year’s budget and what they expected to happen, and when we look particularly at the area of outcome 4—and, in particular, under 4.3 for administrative expenses and departmental expenses relating to 4.3.1 and 4.3.2—the story gets even more concerning.

We have had, in the area of additional estimates, for offshore processing, an additional $132 million overall for that outcome under 4.3. That is an increase that this government is asking this parliament for of 106 per cent—a 106 per cent increase in expenditure in this area, over and above the budget. What that actually means in terms of how much the government will be spending this year compared to last year is an increase of $144 million—or an increase of 126 per cent over what was spent on these matters in 2008-09. Just to put that in total terms, the government is now asking to spend $257,429,000 this year on the issue of offshore processing, compared to an actual figure for 2008-09 of $113,778,000. This is the cost in financial terms of the government’s failed border protection policies. This is what happens when you create a highway on the sea to Christmas Island, which has become a visa factory under this government.

But let us go even further and look underneath. Let us look at some of the other increases, and look at what has happened in terms of departmental expenses. I was on Christmas Island last week and I had the opportunity of talking to a large number of people—those in the department and those working on the island—and I thank the minister for finally agreeing to allow me to go to Christmas Island and for facilitating that visit, having denied my predecessor on many occasions the same opportunity. But when I was there I became very aware of the impact on the broader Christmas Island community of the island’s carrying capacity for the detention population. It is not just how many beds are in the centres—it is how many other beds there are on the island to accommodate the absolute army of officials, assessors, health and other workers, and all of the attendant things that are necessary to provide a professional and humanitarian detention service on Christmas Island, which is necessary. But with the absolute avalanche of arrivals that we have experienced under the term of this government, these costs are now, just like the government’s border protection policies, completely out of control.

In terms of the service contractor, Serco—and I stress that Serco is doing an outstanding job on the island—the additional estimates being sought here by the government are a 58 per cent increase for this year. That is a 58 per cent blow-out, and $26.5 million in additional payments will need to be made to the contractor as a result of the explosion of the population on Christmas Island and of this government’s failed border protection policies. But what is more interesting is that when you look at the actuals for last year, 2008-09, and at what the government is now asking to spend this year you will see there is an increase of 245 per cent in payments to the contractors on Christmas Island to provide the services to meet the demand that is clearly out of control and unable to be managed by this government.

Also, there is $34 million extra in capital works. I have seen where that money is being spent. I have seen where the extra 400 demountables will be going in and where the accommodation for 212 people in demountables has just been completed. The extra 400 demountables will not be online until late April or May. Who knows? A further 88 beds in the area where it is intended to hold families in the future will not be on stream until possibly as late as May. Christmas Island is now at full capacity. As the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship confirmed yesterday in the Senate, there are around 1,800 beds and currently 1,800 people in detention on that island. That is one boat away from an overflow. It only begs people to ask the question: who is now determining how many people are coming to Christmas Island? It is certainly not this government.

An extra $34 million has been spent on providing further demountable accommodation on Christmas Island. That $34 million started flowing in December. So the government has been basically chasing its tail on this issue in trying to get as many beds as it possibly can on this island. That is necessary. No-one in the coalition is suggesting that people should be living in tents. No-one in the coalition is even suggesting that people should be living in demountables because, when we planned Christmas Island and the detention facility, we provided a capacity after noting the potential demand that may have existed in the future. In fact, the member who is currently the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration described the Christmas Island detention facility as a white elephant and a grandiose waste of money. That was prior to the facility being opened. This government did not want to open it but it was forced to do so. Within a year its population increased more than tenfold as a result of this government’s policies.

When you look at the forward estimates you will see the government has asked for an additional $132 million, as I said, from this parliament to deal with this issue for this year alone; next year it is forecasting that there will be a 38 per cent decline in the number of arrivals. If you look at the forward estimates and just assume that the number of arrivals that we will have to accommodate and deal with on Christmas Island over the next few years is just the same as it was this year then that will cost, over those forward estimates, an additional $370 million. Add $370 million to the $130 million and that is half a billion dollars, at least, because there is no sign that, under the policies of this government, the flow of boats will be stopping any time soon.

These estimates, which are set out in these bills, paint a picture of failure of the government’s border protection policies. In terms of the dollars that are being spent, the runs are on the board, demonstrating that it is a demand driven policy that the government are operating. They have effectively opened the doors, they have changed the laws and they are in complete denial about the impact.

So let us look at the issue more broadly as to what is causing these massive increases in expenditure as a result of the government’s failed policies. Firstly, is there a problem? Yesterday in the House, the Prime Minister, in addressing his part of a debate held on another matter, posed three questions: is there a problem; are you going to do something about that problem: are you committed and is your heart in the solution?

Let us apply those same three tests to the government. Is there a problem with border protection and the rate of arrivals to this country under this government? Since the government changed the rules in August 2008, 77 boats have arrived and 3,480 people have arrived on those boats illegally. I do not shirk from that statement. If you go to the UN convention you will find in there the term ‘illegal arrival’. I do not think we should mix messages with the Australian people and try to engage ourselves in cloaked language. These boats have arrived illegally.

Nine boats have arrived this year, carrying 509 people—that is, in the last month, nine boats have arrived—with the most recent cruising into Christmas Island the other evening, basically coming into the harbour at Flying Fish Cove, with 185 people. Since 1 December last year, 21 boats have arrived. I highlight 1 December last year because this is the monsoon season. This is the cyclone season. Last year four boats came over that very difficult and dangerous time. We have had 21 boats over the summer, full of people who are literally putting their lives at risk at sea. Not even the forces of nature, not even the forces of weather—cyclones and monsoons—can counteract the magnetic effect of the policies of the government when it comes to border protection. Basically, people are prepared to take the risk, and it is an extreme risk in these summer months.

If those opposite doubt it they should talk to the people living in the Afghan community in Brisbane who are still waiting for calls from 105 people who they fear are lost at sea. It is feared 105 people have perished at sea because they got on a boat and sought to come to this country. You have to ask yourself the question: why were they trying to get to Australia? They were in Indonesia. They were in a place where their lives were not under immediate threat. They had the opportunity to register with the UNHCR there and to take themselves through the process, in which Australia is one of the most generous resettlement countries in the world. But, no, they decided, I am sure at the encouragement of people smugglers, to get on a boat. Today their families are wondering where they are, and they have been waiting since October.

I do not hear moralistic shrills coming from the government about people’s lives being put at risk. I am concerned about the welfare of the people on that boat which did not get to Christmas Island. We do not know how many do not get to Christmas Island because, when asked, the government say, ‘We’re not aware of anything happening in our territorial waters.’ You have to take responsibility when you send out an invitation. The government need to ask themselves about what risk they are placing people in by encouraging them to come to Australia in this fashion.

So, moving on, the government have created a highway in the sea and it is coming to Christmas Island for one purpose, and that is to get a visa. At the moment, more than nine out of 10 people will get that permanent visa which allows them to immediately gain access to a range of other services and, in particular, to encourage their family members to join them. As I said before, there are about 1,800 beds available on Christmas Island; that population is currently unsustainable.

So we do have a problem. There is no doubt that we have a problem of significant proportions and it requires a response. But what has been the response from this government? I quote the Prime Minister’s words yesterday when he said:

We believe that we have got the balance of the policy right …

Right for whom? It is right for people smugglers who are charging people $20,000 to risk their lives at sea! It is pretty right for the people smugglers; it is very right for the people smugglers. The government are basically saying, ‘We think that everything’s fine,’ and they wave on the next boat. When you read the press releases issued by the Minister for Home Affairs you can see that they are computer generated, which is no surprise from this government. On this same issue they are computer generated: ‘Well, it’s not our fault. It’s everything happening everywhere else.’ This is just another problem which they apparently believe they have no control over or no responsibility for.

But the people of Australia feel very differently about this, because they know that they had a government which was able to do something about this issue and which was able to reduce the arrival of boats to zero on two separate occasions in two financial years. In the course of the last six years of our government we had 18 boat arrivals. The government have had 18 boat arrivals in the last eight weeks, and their response is simply to say, ‘Well, this is all out of our control.’ They sent more beds to Christmas Island; they incurred the additional expenses as set out in these bills and basically asked the Australian people to get used to it. That is their response; they will wave it through. But they have another response, because Christmas Island is full and we are one boat away from having to do what the government have already said they would do. They said they would bring directly to the mainland those people whose claims had not yet been determined. So the offshore processing system, which has been the backbone of our border security system, will be effectively unwound—and already has been with the transfer of 30 young people prior to Christmas. This is the government’s plan: to bring them directly to Australia. I do not know what message the government thinks it is giving to people smugglers about that issue, but I certainly know what message the people smugglers will be taking: ‘We’ll get them to their waters and the Australian government, under Kevin Rudd, will take them all the way to the mainland, and they won’t even have to wait for their assessment as to whether they are a refugee to be completed.’ That is the message that they are sending.

Yesterday the minister got quite excited in the Senate when he made references to the Pacific solution of the former government. I will be very clear: what the coalition has said very clearly about what we will do at the moment—and there will be more to come before the election—is that we will do two things. We will reinstate, effectively, the system of a safe haven visa. So, if you come via this channel, you will not get immediate and permanent access to the visa arrangements that are available under a permanent visa offered by this government—which has made a rolled gold product for people smugglers under this government. The other thing we have said we would do is that we would not compromise offshore processing. We will not. I have been very clear about that; I have been saying it for six to eight weeks. I have also said very clearly, as I said on the Ray Hadley program yesterday, that Nauru and Manus are closed, so if the government want to run around talking about Nauru and Manus that is fine but what they should be doing is looking for alternative offshore processing arrangements. Nauru and Manus are unacceptable. They have been closed, and I suspect that the opportunity to reopen them does not exist. That is not the point. The point is: is the government prepared to take tough decisions to find solutions that will put a border security system in place in this country, through our visa arrangements, that will deter the activities of people smugglers and compromise the product that they are seeking to offer people who have the money to pay to get on a boat and come here while many others do not? That is what the government has to decide: whether they have the stomach to undertake the decisions that will lead to turning this terrible situation around.

The third thing that the Prime Minister said is: ‘Are you committed?’ Let me tell you why the coalition is very heated on this issue. Those opposite like to engage in this form of moral piety, self assessing their own virtue as a response to the coalition’s position rather than actually putting forward arguments and policies that will work. The coalition is concerned about this issue for two reasons, in particular, but there are many more that I will be happy to discuss over the course of this year. But let us think about this. Five people were killed on a boat that exploded last year trying to get to Australia by this channel. I have already mentioned the 105 Afghans about whom we will never know what happened. For me, saving lives is a very good reason to take decisions to stop the boats. A further reason is that there are 140,000 Burmese refugees sitting in Thailand today. They have not been waiting 100 days on Christmas Island. They have not been waiting five years in Indonesia. These are people who were born in those camps and are now raising their own children in these camps. They have been waiting for generations for this opportunity, and what this government is saying is: ‘We will take people who pay $20,000 to a people smuggler, people who get on the highway on the sea to the visa factory on Christmas Island, and within 100 days they can come straight on in.’ But if you are waiting in Indonesia or Thailand, and you have been waiting for generations, frankly you will just have to wait a little more under the policies of the Rudd government. So do not come to us with all your moral invective and your moral grandstanding when your own policies put people’s lives at risk by drawing them into decisions which put them on very risky voyages and deny people who have been waiting generations in camps for their opportunity for a fair go in Australia.

Media Release : Transcript - 2UE Radio Afternoon Program

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subject: Another illegal boat arrival on Christmas Island

E&OE

TIM WEBSTER: The latest asylum seeker boat, as I understand it, has simply putted into Christmas Island. It wasn’t intercepted, it just lobbed. 188 potential new Aussie residents and four crew; Afghanis, we’re told and they’re still arriving at the rate of two a week. The government insists its border protection policies are working. Really? Who for? Christmas Island is bulging and more demountables will be built but not until April so you would think that any new refugees would end up being housed on the mainland. Probably Darwin first or the far North coast of WA or somewhere. The Opposition spokesman on Home Affairs, Scott Morrison has just returned from Christmas Island a couple of days ago and he joins me now. Hi Scott, am I right in saying that this boat just turned up.

SCOTT MORRISON: It cruised on in to Flying Fish Cove where I was last week and its not the first time that’s happened actually. Not that long ago another boat did exactly the same thing. While its amazing, its actually not that surprising as boats are arriving at will in our North and Christmas Island has become a destination not a deterrent.

TIM WEBSTER: They’re good navigators! They’d do James Cook proud.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well they probably would! But the purpose here is not to evade detection. The purpose here is to get to Christmas Island which has literally become a visa factory. You get there, you pay $20,000 to a people smuggler and within 100 days or so you‘ll be sitting in Australia with a permanent visa so the people smuggling business is booming. That’s who these policies are working for.

TIM WEBSTER: Well, look, the Minister says, Brendan O’Connor says it is working, he’s talking about people being arrested in Indonesia for people smuggling, etc, but that doesn’t seem to stem the flow of the boats, Scott.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s right. If he thinks its working then he must think that if you’re down 100 points at half time in AFL then you’re in front. I mean he’s dreaming; Kevin Rudd’s dreaming. They have literally put up the white flag on this Tim, they just accept the fact that their policies are producing this outcome and are quite happy to live with that. Now we had a very different view. When we were faced with a surge of arrivals, not of our making, ten years or so ago, we took action; we did something about it and the boats came to zero. In our last six years we had 18 boats Labor have had 18 boats in the last eight weeks. It’s out of control.

TIM WEBSTER: You do face the spectre, and I’m sure you know, of people overboard etc, and anything you do will be leapt on, probably, as being draconian. But look, you’ve seen the living conditions first hand on Christmas Island, just describe it for us.

SCOTT MORRISON: The living conditions are fine and in fact, if we treated Indigenous Australians in remote Australia where I visited last year with Tony Abbott, like we do those on Christmas Island there’d be no gap to close. They have access, as they should, to good conditions, clean facilities, and meals and recreation and counselling and support services, and legal services. They Skype their families back in Colombo or Afghanistan and they talk on the phone. This is all available and I felt totally comfortable with the level of service provided in terms of meeting acceptable standards.

TIM WEBSTER: OK so we’ve now got 1850 beds 200 in tents where some people have been living for months and demountables planned but not until April for another 500 or so. Obviously, quite obviously, I’ve been saying this Scott since last year, Christmas Island will reach capacity and they’ll have to be housed on the mainland somewhere.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, that’s what the government wants to do, bring them to the mainland, but when we were in government we had a different view and found alternative offshore processing. If we were in government today, that’s what we would be doing. The Government’s answer is to bring people to the mainland. Now that’ll just say to people smugglers, you can now get your customers all the way to the mainland. It’s a very attractive product to sell. We take a very different view to that and that’s why we say that the Government has put up the white flag on this issue and is just happy for the borders to be completely porous.

TIM WEBSTER: Look, I have to tell you that some of my listeners absolutely splutter about this, they literally do not understand how it can just be floodgates, and while you might have some compassion, and I do, you can’t just keep having boatload after boatload turn up here.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well there are 10.5 million refugees and people in similar situations around the world and we have a program which has bi-partisan support of 13,500 people that we take. Now we take those people out of refugee camps in Africa, and in Thailand and places like that and that’s a good thing for us to do, we’re a generous country and we’re a compassionate country. But we want to decide who we’re going to help and who we extend our generosity to. We don’t think that should be based on someone’s ability to pay $20,000 to a people smuggler and come across and take a place.

TIM WEBSTER: I’m not a scare monger but are you satisfied with the processing procedures, I mean are they weeding out the few dangerous ones among the asylum seekers?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, more than 9 out or ten, Tim, are getting the tick and when we were in government , the Minister would regularly , as a matter of process, question the rate of acceptance and look into these things. The current government is not doing that and I pay tribute to the officials on the island because it’s a stressful situation working through these issues and they’re doing a good job. But I see no level of oversight or review by this government to give Australians an assurance that the high rate of acceptance is something that is totally fine. In Europe at the moment, I was told just yesterday by the UNHCR that the rejection rate for Afghan asylum seekers has been rising steadily in recent months, now that’s not been reflected in the results that we’re seeing. They could be completely different circumstances, Tim, but as a Minister you’ve got to ask the questions because people’s general level of comfort about immigration levels broadly is in many ways determined by this issue, because it looks like the Government is completely out of control, and they are. That’s not want people want to feel in terms of the country.

TIM WEBSTER: There has to be a point where your compassion, doesn’t run out, but is tempered. I have listeners who tell me that they went through this huge process to get here and yet as you say these people can pay a people smuggler twenty grand and get here. Twenty grand times a hundred and eighty – I mean these people are getting paid a fortune and we’re just letting them do it. That’s my biggest concern.

SCOTT MORRISON: That’s true Tim, it is a big business and it’s getting bigger by the day and as everyone in business knows if you’ve got a good product to sell it will sell. I think, undoubtedly, the Government’s policies are making their product better. Under the Coalition, it’s our job to make that product tough to sell.

TIM WEBSTER: It just seems that the policy is, well ok, we’ll just let as many people arrive as we possibly can but in the meantime we’ll try and stop the people smugglers well there are still two a week so there’s not a great success rate so far.

SCOTT MORRISON: No, it’s an absolute failure, an absolute failure.

TIM WEBSTER: Thanks for your time.

Media Release : Christmas Island detention centre at bursting point with 185 more illegal arrivals

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The illegal arrival of another 181 passengers and 4 crew in a boat intercepted last night will bring our detention facilities on Christmas Island to bursting point, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Kevin Rudd has created a sea highway to Christmas Island which has become a visa factory for people smugglers. Christmas Island has become a destination rather than a deterrent under the Rudd Government,” Mr Morrison said.

“Christmas Island was already operating at unsustainable levels when I left last week. It is now at bursting point, with this latest illegal arrival, thanks to the failed policies of the Rudd Government,” he said.

“The interception of the boat carrying 185 people is the ninth illegal boat arrival in just one month this year. This will push Christmas Island to the edge of its current capacity of 1848 people, with more than 1830 people expected to be on the Island, following this latest interception.

“Of the 1848 beds available, 200 are in tents, where some people had been living for 28 days when I visited the Island. A further 488 beds are planned in demountable accommodation, but these will not come on stream until at least April.

“When I left Christmas Island last Friday there were just over 1556 people in detention, not including the boat carrying 33 passengers that arrived that day and another vessel carrying 51 passengers yet to arrive. The addition of another 185 people on the island will push our facilities to bursting point.

“The Parliament has an additional appropriation before it this week for another $34 million for works on the island to cope with the surge in arrivals caused by Labor’s own failed policies.

“What the Rudd Government needs to understand is that more bunk beds is not the answer to this problem. They need to implement policies that stop the boats from coming as was achieved by the Coalition when we were last in Government.

“In the last six years of the Coalition there were just 18 illegal boat arrivals. We have had that many under The Rudd Labor Government in just the last eight weeks.

“The Rudd Government has lost control of our borders. They must face up to their failure and take action,” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : Transcript and audio link - 2GB Ray Hadley program

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click on the link at the bottom of the page to listen to the interview

Subjects: Another illegal boat arrival on Christmas Island, Emissions Trading Scheme, Coalition border protection policy.

RAY HADLEY: Scott g ‘day.

SCOTT MORRISON: G ‘day. How are you Ray?

RAY HADLEY: Not bad. So we won’t hear the boorish comments from Brendan O’Connor today because he can’t say that because they found us, we didn’t find them.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well this boat cruised in, it just cruised into Flying Fish Cove. The (HMAS) Larrakia which I saw last Friday [was there], because it was there loading 33 Afghan asylum seekers who were found about a week before, so it [asylum seeker boat] has literally been cruising around that area for the last few days. This will take the detention population on Christmas Island to over 1,800 - 1,830 odd. Now the place at current capacity including the people in tents, only takes 1,850 so we are one boat away from them basically transferring people to the mainland which is the complete failure of this policy.

RAY HADLEY: Do you think the government will be propelled into action or will they merely take that option of bringing people straight to the mainland.

SCOTT MORRISON: They have put up the white flag Ray. This morning the Prime Minister basically shrugged his shoulders and said ‘oh well we are just going to have to accommodate people’. They put the white flag completely up on this issue, they are resigned to there being just more and more and more arrivals. We have got a Bill in the Parliament this week - $34 million extra we are spending putting demountables on Christmas Island for another 400 people - so their basic answer is to put more beds in rather than stop the boats and that’s the nature of this government’s border protection policy.

RAY HADLEY: You brought to our attention last week after your visit there that the people in detention have access to the internet.

SCOTT MORRISON: True.

RAY HADLEY: They can actually visit Skype.

SCOTT MORRISON: Yes.

RAY HADLEY: They can Skype other people in other parts of the world - it’s a bit like a teleconferencing call where they can see them and hear them and can discuss it with them. That is paid for by us and no doubt from the Afghans and Sri Lankans. One of the things that concerns me and I was thinking about it later, if these people are in such tough circumstances in either Afghanistan or Sri Lanka, one would assume they must have some resources, firstly to pay their way here and secondly for their relatives and friends to actually have Skype back home to talk to them.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well this is all true. It is largely Afghans who are coming now Ray. The Sri Lankans stopped coming by the beginning of last December. In talking to people up there last week it costs up to $20,000 odd to get to Australia and what I also noticed from inspecting the baggage that was seized , there are wads of cash, over $1,000 US dollars, there is Malaysian and Indonesian currency and people I spoke to up there, not officials I should stress but others, told me that they basically have no difficulty with the money and if they can’t get the money there are Pakistani loan brokers up there in Pakistan who will finance the voyage.

RAY HADLEY: So the suggestion from this vessel, a large one obviously in comparison with the others that have come, it’s either left Malaysia or Indonesia and come directly to Christmas Island?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yeah well Christmas Island now is a destination not a deterrent as it was when we were in government. I am sitting here watching the Prime Minister speak about Obama. I wish he was more worried about the illegal arrival of people in Australia than being so worked up about the arrival of Barack Obama. That seems to be his focus and he is quite happy to just put the white flag up on illegal boat arrivals.

RAY HADLEY: I notice as well, I’m watching the same coverage you’re talking about. The government will reintroduce its ETS legislation into Parliament today.

SCOTT MORRISON: Yes they will and they will get the same answer from us this time. As we speak the Shadow Ministry and our Partyroom will be gathering, on the Liberal and Coalition side, to talk about the policy of direct action which Tony Abbott and the team have put together and they will be talking a lot more about that later today but the answer to the ETS will be a stern no.

RAY HADLEY: Ok, just go back. What we are looking from you and from your leader is exactly what you’re going to do. The pacific solution seems to be off the agenda, off the radar. What will you do to prevent people coming here?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well there are two things we have already talked about Ray and we will obviously talk about more between now and the election. The first one is the reintroduction of what we call a Safe Haven Visa. That is, for people who seek to come by this path illegally, they would only get access to a temporary visa. That does not give them access to family reunion or any of these things so that significantly reduced the quality of the product that people smugglers are offering. The second thing we’ve said is we would not do what this government is about to do and already has done in bringing people to the mainland. Now that does not necessarily mean the Pacific solution, I’m not sure where that alternative detention facility would be. That is only..

RAY HADLEY: Well you are going to need one, I mean, the simple facts are this. When the Pacific solution was introduced, the influx dropped, it went to a trickle. When it was removed as I kept predicting after the election, during the election, the floodgates opened again.

SCOTT MORRISON: We have no problem with finding alternative offshore processing arrangements whether that is in another country or another excised Australian territory. The government has said no to that but that is what they should have been doing for the last six months when they knew the boats were surging. They should have been looking for an alternative offshore destination as we did. We had Nauru and Manus, now those two facilities are shut down now so they wouldn’t necessarily be the place that you would look to do that but there are many other options that they should be looking at. They refused it, we are saying we wouldn’t refuse that. We wouldn’t compromise the offshore protection system. So those two things of themselves Ray I think are very significant. We’ve also said we would turn back the boats if circumstances allowed and that is a fairly precarious thing to do and you can only do it in very specific situations.

RAY HADLEY: The simple solution, ok, we know these people in the main up until December came to Sri Lanka, now from Afghanistan and they have come via Malaysia or Indonesia where they have papers and then the papers probably disappear by the time they get here though they are cashed up.

SCOTT MORRISON: True.

RAY HADLEY: There is an airport there. What would stop, apart from the obvious that the other end might not take them, putting the people straight back on a plane, this 181, and saying no, I’m sorry you came from there, this is where you are going to. That’s the simple thing I get from my listeners all the time. Why can’t we simply send them back?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we signed a thing in 1954 called the Convention on Refugees which means we have and have had since that time, an obligation to assess these people in terms of their claims and if their claims don’t stand up then we can do exactly what you said. But with more than 9 out of 10 getting the tick…

RAY HADLEY: Well that’s my next point. I mean 99 out of 100 actually come and stay.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well there is no oversight or review, in fact when people like Philip Ruddock were Minister and so on they used to challenge a lot of the yes decisions and seek to have them reviewed. Now as far as I am aware Minister Evans has not challenged one yes decision, not one and certainly the Minister should be taking a closer look at just how many yes’ are coming out of the visa factory on Christmas Island but more than that I think it’s something we need to look at in terms of…

RAY HADLEY: How much longer after they arrived here would these thousands of people be eligible to vote in a federal election?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the citizenship process can take 2 years plus.

RAY HADLEY: It would be unlikely they would be voting for your mob when they do get the right to vote.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well look…

RAY HADLEY: They may be ready-made Labor supporters given the Labor Party has welcomed them here so openly.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I suspect that may well be true Ray. That’s one way to stack some electorates. But the citizenship process can take up to 4 years but they are accessing benefits under this government immediately. Immediately. As soon as that 100 days or thereabouts has passed and they have got their permanent visa, they would get a temporary one under us, a permanent visa, then they can bring their family. One of the things I noticed up there last week Ray is its pretty much all single males who are coming. So it is like a grappling hook, you throw it on and you pull yourself over and you can bring everyone else with you. There are thousands of people waiting for generations in places all around the world for that opportunity. They will keep waiting while these guys get the ticket.

Media Release : Intergeneration report issues sustainable population policy challenge to Rudd Government

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The release of the third intergenerational report later today must challenge the Rudd Government to develop and implement a coherent population policy, rather than passively accept the forecasts as destiny, Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said.

“Just like illegal boat arrivals, Mr Rudd believes population growth is just another global tectonic force outside his control that he is not responsible for. This seems to be his default response every time there’s an issue where there are no soft options, just hard choices,” Mr Morrison said

“The Coalition wants a sustainable future for Australia and a sustainable population is arguably the single largest determinant,” he said.

“The forecasts in the intergenerational report are just that, forecasts. Whether they become reality will depend on the population policies we employ, in particular immigration. Mr Rudd has no such policy. He is happy to just passively accept the Treasury verdict and tell us all to just live with it.

“There are growth path alternatives and the Coalition is prepared to consider them. But first we need to know just how many people we believe we can responsibly sustain in the future and work backwards from there.

“60% of our population growth is the product of immigration. 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.

“Concerns about water resources, public transport, affordable housing, hospitals and schools are all connected not just to how much we spend in these areas, but the size and location of the population they must serve.

“Population policy must connect these issues and determine just what our immigration intake should be for the future.

“This planning must especially involve the States who basically have to live with the population parameters set at a federal level whether by decision or by default, as is the case under the Rudd Government.

“At the same time we must ensure our immigration mix focuses on those who bring much needed skills and can generate the tax base we need to service an ageing population. Last time Labor were in power they cut skills migration to less than 30% of the total, and they are heading in the same direction again.

“Under the Coalition, skills migration was almost 70% of the total” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Christmas Island a visa factory for people smugglers

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The Rudd Labor Government’s failed border protection policies and the special deal done with the passengers who held the Oceanic Viking to ransom, are responsible for the tensions now arising in the Christmas Island detention centre, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Senator Evans claims that the reason for the delays in processing the Tamils on Christmas Island is the result of delays in providing security clearances,” Mr Morrison said.

“If that is the case, what shortcuts in security checking were made to process those on the Oceanic Viking in as little as six weeks?” he said.

“With the population of the centre at unsustainable levels already and new boats arriving every week, the Government is now reeling from the consequences of their own weak policies.

“The Government is making a difficult situation even worse with soft policies and weak decisions.

“The most important priority of the Rudd Labor Government should be stopping the boats and reinstating the Coalition’s strong border protection measures – measures they systematically unwound since November 2007.

“The population of the detention centre has increased ten fold since the latter half of last year and the boats are still coming, encouraged by the policies of the Rudd Labor Government and people smugglers.

“Nearly everyone in the detention centre has paid a people smuggler. More than 9 of every 10 applicants get a visa. Christmas Island has simply become a visa factory for people smugglers,” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : Sky News video and transcript - Christmas Island

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: Christmas Island visit, Christmas Island detention centre protest, Labor’s Oceanic Viking special deal

LEIGH HATCHER: Joining us now on the line from Christmas Island is the Shadow Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison. Scott, why are you going there today?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we want to see firsthand what is happening up here Leigh and we have been here for a couple of days and visited other parts of the detention facilities here on Christmas Island. Frankly the situation here is not sustainable at these levels of population in these centres. It has increased ten-fold in the last year and what we are seeing is the natural consequence of the government reaping what it sowed. When you do special deals then it creates unreal expectation for others. It is important that the security checks and the other checks that are taken for all those seeking a visa here are undertaken and if that takes 11 months, then it takes 11 months and in the vast majority of cases it talks less than that. If there are issues they need to be resolved but the problem here is the fact the government has made weak decisions, done special deals and that is making a very difficult situation for the population being very high here, even worse.

LEIGH HATCHER: Yet over and over again, from the Prime Minister down, the government said there were no special deals onboard the Oceanic Viking.

SCOTT MORRISON: The Prime Minister is in fantasy land on this. Even Minister Evans when he had to defend the fact that they knowingly took people with adverse security findings from Indonesia to Christmas Island admitted that there was a arrangement that gave them responsibility to do that. Now that is not typical, it’s not usual, it’s not even non-extraordinary as the Prime Minister would say. It’s a special deal and it is creating tensions here, amongst particularly the Tamils but more broadly that decision will have repercussions. They have done special favours all around the world to place the people who were on the Oceanic Viking while there are 200 people sitting on the port of Merak saying What about me? When you create those expectations by weak decisions by policies that have no direction then it’s not surprising that you have these outcomes.

LEIGH HATCHER: So from what you have seen, what are the protestors doing and saying now and what’s the response of those in charge of the Christmas Island detention centre?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I have got to say the immigration officials here and those that are running the centres are doing a very good job. They are managing the situation well as you would expect them to do and what we have seen and I have seen in the last couple of days is when we were in government there were a whole range of reforms that came out of a number of review processes and they are all hitting the ground now and have been hitting the ground for the last 12 months or so. So I think they are doing a good job managing the situation and they will continue to monitor it but it makes their job harder when they have got a government that just allows boats to arrive at will. I mean we have got another boat arriving this afternoon that was intercepted last week, there will be another one arriving next week and who knows whether they will find another one out there in the ocean today.

LEIGH HATCHER: So what are the protestors doing? What is the form of their protest?

SCOTT MORRISON: I haven’t seen it physically and I will be out there today but I understand they have placards and signs which are comparing their time of processing to that provided on the Oceanic Viking. Now they know all this information because they are ‘Skyping’, they are on the internet, they have iMacs there, they are on the phones. They know what is going on and they know when there is inconsistent decision making that is taking place with what the government did on the Oceanic Viking and what they are dealing with. Now I am not suggesting they should be getting a shorter time frame at all. The checks have to be done but when you make inconsistent decisions this is what happens.

LH: So at the moment the authorities are just leaving them be?

SCOTT MORRISON: As I understand it they are on top of the situation and just monitoring it and just trying to keep the temperature low. We had some very violent incidents here, an incident here last year which people are currently charged and before the courts over. That’s tended to settle the population a bit because frankly if you muck up here’s every risk you won’t get a visa. Now we will see whether the government comes good on that when those proceedings have finished. But everyone here has come here for one reason and that’s a visa and it has become literally a visa factory for people who have arrived by people smugglers to this island.

LEIGH HATCHER: So if numbers there are as unsustainable as you say they are, and it certainly seems that way, what is the answer? What is the solution?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well if we were in government we wouldn’t be bringing people to the mainland, we would be looking at alternative offshore arrangements which you can only do from government. The government is not interested in that. They have already brought 30 young Afghan males to the mainland, they did that just before Christmas, whose claims hadn’t been settled and I visited that element of the detention centre there yesterday and that section is full, there is no more room unless people leave. The same is true for those in family detention. There is very little opportunity here for community detention for those who are more at risk in terms of trauma or bad experiences in the past. So with the population at these levels, although I believe it has been well handled by the professionals here, they can’t keep doing this forever Leigh. With the boats arriving two a week, it’s just not going to survive that level of policy failure.

Multimedia : Transcript and audio link - 2UE Steve Liebmann program

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click on the link below to listen to this interview.

Subjects: Christmas Island visit, SIEV 36 inquest, Coalition border protection policies, Oceanic Viking special deal

STEVE LIEBMANN: Scott Morrison good morning to you.

SCOTT MORRISON: Good morning Steve.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Now just on this latest asylum boat this year, has it arrived yet?

SCOTT MORRISON: No it won’t arrive here until sometime next week. We’re still waiting for one of the boats which were intercepted of the two within 24 hours on the weekend to arrive and they’ll arrive here on Friday. It’s a busy place the harbor here in terms of boat arrivals, as you say eight this year. There has been 20 this summer Steve, there were four last summer. The population on Christmas Island today is ten times what it was a year ago. These things don’t happen by accident.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Ok so on that, you’ve been on the Island for a couple of days now?

SCOTT MORRISON: No I’ve just arrived yesterday afternoon and I’ve been getting a general orientation and a briefing.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Ok so what’s it like, what have you seen, who have you spoken to?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we’ve had a very good chat with those who run the facility here from the immigration department. The immigration department are doing a good job in coping with what is an incredibly significant increase in their business, processing times, they’re staying where you hope they would and taking good care of the people who come here. There’s a lot of stress though on the infrastructure of this island. There are more people now in detention, in either formal or community detention, than actually live here and that obviously has an impact on the services and we’ll be talking to the Mayor here later today. It is a difficult situation when you have a policy in place with this government which is basically allowing boats to arrive at will. We had 100 people leave yesterday and in the space of 10 days we’ll have more than 100 people arrive.

STEVE LIEBMANN: So how many people are on Christmas Island now and how are they all being accommodated?

SCOTT MORRISON: The vast majority are in the north west point facility which is the secured facility. There are two other sites, the construction camp and the Phosphate Hill camp which are largely demountables. People are living in tents, people are living in demountable accommodation, there are more to a room now. That’s how they’re coping with these things. They are doing a good job coping with these things but you wouldn’t have to cope with these things if we didn’t have such a surge of arrivals. If we have a year this year like last year then regardless of the good efforts of the people who work here, you just simply can’t accommodate that many people.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Now before you left, you would have been aware that the Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry said that detention centres are mental illness factories. Are you seeing evidence of that?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well no not yet. Part of the screening process that happens when people come onto the island is that there is a mental health assessment and there are additional resources and support which are provided while people are here. I think the way detention centres are run now, over many years of change, have significantly improved. It’s a long time since the days of Port Hedland and Baxter where I think there were all sorts of things going on and the children were in detention and then our government took them out of detention and made a lot of changes with a lot of lessons learnt and I think that those lessons are being put into place on the ground here now. If there’s a factory out here it’s a factory for visas. And basically if you pay your $15,000, which is one of the figures I’ve heard since being here, of what it costs to pay a people smuggler to get here and virtually all the people who are here came through people smugglers, then within 100 days you’ll be on your way to Australia. Now that’s a lot better in their view than waiting the five years you’d normally wait in Indonesia, or generations where people are waiting in Thailand with the Burmese refugees.

STEVE LIEBMANN: So I get the impression nothing you’ve observed so far, first hand, since you’ve arrived in Christmas Island has changed your mind on the whole issue of asylum seekers.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well if anything it has reinforced it Steve. Every place that we provide for someone who comes through this channel is a place that we don’t provide for someone who sits in a camp. And the other point is that this is summer, this is cyclone season and this is monsoon and we have had just in the last month more than 320 people arrive and you’d be aware of those reports which would suggest that there’s potentially 100 Afghanies who may have perished at sea in the last month or so and we’ll never know whether that happened or not. For every boat you find you wonder about the other boats you don’t. The first thing people do here is they are given the opportunity to call home and one of the things the department have had to do is put on more phone lines so people can phone home.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Well just on that there’s a story today that says mobile phones have now been banned.

SCOTT MORRISON: They can use land lines to call. They have internet access. These are people who know the communication system well, they have been briefed well, they know how the operation runs and they know that once they get here there is a period of time and various checks. The incident with the riot that occurred here last year with the people that have now been charged seems to have had quite a fairly sobering effect on the population. I mean if you muck up than you obviously put your visa at risk. Now the question is will the government follow through on action should the charges be upheld and I think that’s an important message to people that needs to get out when people arrive, if you muck up here than you won’t get a visa. But the bigger question is that people are arriving at will courtesy of people smugglers and that’s denying people in other parts of the world their opportunity at a ticket to life in Australia.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Ok so what we have here is a two part issue. Part one what do you do with those who are already on Christmas Island? Part two what are you going to do with those who are going to try to come to Australia? On the question of those who are already on Christmas Island, in the last couple of days the head of the Prime Minister’s bill of right consultation committee Father Frank Brennan and indeed now the former federal police commissioner Nick Palmer, they have said asylum seekers should be brought to the mainland. What do you say, should they be relocated to Darwin or Baxter or Woomera?

SCOTT MORRISON: No I don’t think they should. I think the facilities here and the services that are provided here are world class and I’ll be interested to see them further today. I think the idea of offshore processing has been the back bone of our tough border protection regime and to undermine that further by taking people to the mainland would just take us back to where we were 10 to 15 years ago in terms of the deterrent and we’d just see the torrent of arrivals turn into a flood. I don’t think that’s good policy, I think that you need to make sure people are looked after well here and Australia does do that and I think, frankly, the care that is provided to people here I’m sure exceeds care that is provided to many indigenous Australians throughout, particularly, remote areas. So I don’t think we should get overwhelmed by the issue of how people are treated here, I’m very confident they’re being treated very well and the department has learned its lesson over many years of how to deliver services properly.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Alright. I’m talking to Scott Morrison who is the Shadow Immigration and Citizenship Minister and he is on Christmas Island. Just before I let you go, a couple of related issues. This inquest in Darwin into the deaths of the five Aghan men who died when an asylum seekers boat exploded near Ashmore Reef last year. I mean, every day this is producing terrible tales of sailors who didn’t know whether they were expected to turn boats back to Indonesia or not, about who to rescue first after this boat exploded. Does any of this change your view, your position on the whole boat people issue?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well no, again, and what concerns me, I mean I obviously wouldn’t comment on the inquest that is underway, there will be reports made there and there will be a time for making judgements. Later today we will be meeting people from the Navy, the (HMAS) Bathurst is just moored offshore here, and we need to understand that the defence men and women who are doing this job are in a very difficult situation, a very risky situation, as that situation demonstrated. But they wouldn’t be in that situation if these boats weren’t coming so frequently Steve.

STEVE LIEBMANN: And what are you going to do to stop them?

SCOTT MORRISON: We’ve already talked about reintroducing a form of safe haven visa, one of the reasons people come, and they have actually said this, is that if you get one person here – a large majority of Tamil asylum seekers here are single males – and the minute they get their permanent protection visa they will be bringing their families. Now that is a massive enticement and a massive product enhancement this government has put in the hands of people smugglers. We will change that. That is one of many things but the other thing is we won’t back down on offshore processing which this government is indicating that it clearly will and once Christmas Island is overrun then I am sure that’s what they will do. We wouldn’t do that either.

STEVE LIEBMANN: And you won’t back down on what Tony Abbott was saying a couple of days ago that if everything else fails, you wouldn’t, under certain circumstances, you would not hesitate to turn boats back?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well as Tony said, it is under the appropriate circumstances and the key part of those circumstances it that it is outside Australian waters and that is exactly what the Prime Minister said when he was leading up to the last election. The only difference is he hasn’t done it. In the appropriate circumstances that would be our policy but this boat was in Australian waters.

STEVE LIEBMANN: Just finally and totally unrelated to Christmas Island, there have been suggestions in the last couple of days that the Rudd Government is being pressured by Washington to accept and resettle former Guantanamo prisoners. What’s your position on that? What would you do if you were in power?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well this is specifically in relation to the Oceanic Viking and as we know there was special deal done there and Australia has had to go out and trade favours to place these people all around the world…

STEVE LIEBMANN: That’s right and America has taken 28 of them.

SM: Yeah, and the deal it would seem is that in return we will take quite a number of theirs. Now it is a normal part of the process sometimes when you are seeking to place people to enter into arrangements with countries overseas but the special issue here is that this was a special deal and I am sure that those sitting in the port of Merak wish they had that deal and part of the problem that Australia now has in terms of those in Merak is there is perceived to be a responsibility towards them because of the special deal that was done with the Oceanic Viking. When you have inconsistent decisions made by a government and an incoherent policy which doesn’t seem to be rooted in any firm belief on this issue, then that’s the outcome that you get and I think that’s why there is confusion and that’s why we are seeing the overrun of arrivals

STEVE LIEBMANN: Yes I understand all of that but you didn’t answer my question. If you were the immigration minister today and Washington said deal or no deal we would like Australia to resettle former prisoners form Guantanamo Bay would you support or reject that proposition?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well as I understand Steve they are not people…it’s not Al-Qaeda. These people are from Cuban refugee boats that sought asylum in the United States in a not dissimilar way that people are trying to come to Australia but if there is a security risk, no, not never. We would never compromise security under any circumstances as the government did with their special deal. Nor would we do special deals. But in the ordinary course, say if there were people were coming to Christmas Island as they are and you were seeking to get third country settlement, then yes you would engage other governments on how you might seek to place people so they don’t all have to come to Australia but not in response to any special deal and not to compromise national security as this government did in bringing people with an adverse security clearance from Indonesia to Christmas Island.

Multimedia : Transcript and audio link - 2GB Ray Hadley program

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click on the link below to listen to the program

Subjects: Christmas Island visit, ill foreign workers migrating to Australia

RAY HADLEY: Scott Morrison let’s find out what he thinks about the place. G ‘day Scott.

SCOTT MORRISON: G ‘day Ray how are you?

RAY HADLEY: Not bad. What is Christmas Island like?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the first impression is it is quite a lush place actually Ray, a lot of rainforest and quite spectacular. I’m sure the department has no trouble in getting people to come and do their six month stint up here. Wearing my old tourism hat it frankly has a lot of appeal but the appeal that it really has, it’s quite evident over the last 18 months or so, is the appeal it has to people coming to Australia illegally. We have got ten times the population in detention here than we did a year ago which is a fairly daunting escalation. There are more people here in detention than actually live here.

RAY HADLEY: Yeah I think the figures I had in terms of residents were concerned was under 1,400.

SCOTT MORRISON: Yeah well I think there are about 950 actual permanent residents here but you have other people coming in on contracts and various things so it is, other than for phosphate, and their future license is under review at the moment with Minister Garrett, there is a bit of uncertainty there, but the main business here is detention from that perspective and that is what has really increased significantly. The plane I came up on yesterday which was an immigration charter basically was evidence of that because there were more lawyers coming up and others coming up to provide services and assistance and various things for the people who are here.

RAY HADLEY: Yeah, it’s a growth industry basically.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it is. I was going against the traffic yesterday. I was going up there from Australia but certainly the traffic is going the other way and it’s having a profound impact obviously on the island but the real issue is as we’ve discussed before is the pull factors that is drawing people here…

RAY HADLEY: Yeah we’ve got boat number eight arriving this year, another 48, I don’t know whether they have arrived or not. Are you aware of that? Whether the 48 people…

SCOTT MORRISON: They won’t arrive probably until sometime next week. There will be another arrival here from the boat that was intercepted on the weekend, Friday afternoon, and the other that was intercepted prior to that arrived just the other day. About 100 people went out of here yesterday who’s assessments have been completed and they were on their way to Australia but there are more people arriving than are leaving and so the population here will only increase because the government’s policies aren’t going to change and so long as that is the case, instead of waiting five years after your UNHCR assessment in Indonesia, you can hop on a boat for $15,000, come to Christmas Island and you will be in Australia within 100 days.

RAY HADLEY: And one of the important things that is forgotten about by those who say that we are too tough, including the most recent Australian of the Year, is that for every person that jumps the queue, that puts someone who is legitimately waiting in a camp in another part of the world, be it in Indonesia or Africa, North Africa, down the queue further.

SCOTT MORRISON: That is exactly right. There are 13,500 places and if a place is granted from here then that is one less. People might be waiting a little while in Indonesia but you go up to Thailand, people who are born in refugee camps there are now raising their own children there. Now two generations of waiting is I think Australians would prefer to ensure was lifted rather than the alternative. You can pay $15,000 and you hear…

RAY HADLEY: You haven’t had access to the detention centre yet but you will tomorrow. Is that correct?

SCOTT MORRISON: Today we will be seeing, there are effectively three centres here, and we will be seeing one of them today and we will be talking also to the navy here today as well as to other people on the island but tomorrow we will go through the centre itself and look at their whole processing system. One thing I would say is that over the last ten years there have been a lot of improvements to how these places are run and that is a result of policies we introduced in government and we are starting to see some of the impacts of this now with the way this new contract is handled but also the department doing their job. They have had a lot of practice on how to accept boat arrivals here on Christmas Island in the last 12 months and they are doing a good job but that is what they should do. The issue here is how many people are coming and how that is really compromising and undermining what is a very generous humanitarian program, it should be, Australians should be very proud of it but we would like to decide who comes.

RAY HADLEY: Yeah exactly and we have this stupid line being towed by all the government ministers responsible that it effectively shows, when they intercept a ship, that the border protection policies are working.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it is like standing behind the goalposts and catching the goal that has been converted. This is where they want to come, they want to come to Christmas Island. For example I heard last night that a lot of the Afghan asylum seekers, well not a lot, but some of them are 15, 17 years old and their own mothers say well the Australian government will look after us. So that is something to be, I mean Australia is not seen as this pernicious, hard group of insensitive, uncaring people and that has always been a great appeal of Australia, but we have got to have some tough border protection. People are arriving pretty much at will here while others wait seamlessly and endlessly in other places around the world.

RAY HADLEY: Have you caught up with the story from The Australian today about migrants with HIV and other serious illnesses being allowed to get here a lot easier than they could previously?

SCOTT MORRISON: I hear about that this morning Ray and at first glance it does concern me. Already and for some time the Minister has had the opportunity to use discretion in individual cases and I think that is a far preferable way to go. What concerns me with this government is the way they just delegate more decisions to officials rather than make decisions themselves. They watered down the character test, I mean this minister hasn’t objected one visa, as I understand it, on character grounds or himself personally, these things have been delegated off to officials. Ministers are elected to make decisions, governments are elected to make decisions, not to fob everything off to the department. There are going to be special circumstances which might require attention but you don’t go and institutionalize that across your whole department and just open it up which means if you are waiting for a kidney at a hospital then you may wait a little longer.

RAY HADLEY: Well it is a no brainer. I mean back in the 1980s there was ministerial intervention in a number of fronts. We are now reaping what they sowed in the 1980s in some respects about people that were allowed to stay here when they shouldn’t have under character test legislation. The one you referred to about the little boy with Down Syndrome from the German doctor, that is a no brainer as well. Chris Evans intervened as he should have, as you would if you were the Minister to allow the little fella to stay here but that doesn’t mean they should actually just open the flood gates. We can’t look after sick people who live in Australia let alone importing sick people to Australia.

SCOTT MORRISON: Yeah well I think that’s right. With these debates sometimes you get the impression that people think they have a right to come to Australia. Well you don’t. You have a right to come to Australia if you have gone through our processes and you passed all the tests or you were born here. There is nothing discriminatory about that. We say no to visa applications every day. Millions of people want to live in Australia but obviously we can’t take them all. That is certainly true also of asylum seekers. There are 10.5 million of them around the world today and we’re not about to be able to accommodate all of them. That’s why it’s so important you are in control of that system and not handing it to people who are in Indonesia, collecting their $15,000 payments and pretty much everyone who is here, with a few exceptions, has had to go through that process and has paid the piper a ransom and has come here as a result.

RAY HADLEY: One of the things that confuses me about this story, I’ll just read it to you, from Natasha Bita, the first paragraph says – “Chronically ill foreign workers and their families, including those with HIV-AIDS, will be allowed to settle in Australia for the first time as the Immigration Department loosens its stringent health rules …” Then it says – “In a submission…” this is further on in the story, “…In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into Australia's treatment of disabled migrants, the Immigration Department warns that removing health restrictions could strain health services already in short supply…” So it appears to be contradicting itself, the department in that they are saying they have loosen it but if they do loosen it, it will put a tremendous strain on our state and territory health system.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, yeah that is how it sounds I think Ray and that is why at the end of the day politicians, ministers are elected to make decisions. Officials can give advice, they can see what the consequences are but you have got to make the decision and this government is not making decisions in this area. They are basically fobbing it off to inquiries and reviews and others to make decisions and of course the circumstances are all out of their control and they just happen to be the government and I don’t think that’s a good way to go. I think that the department people up here are doing a good job, an excellent job actually, under very difficult circumstances but the real issue here is the policies, with the same issue you have highlighted out of that story today. These require decisions. Ministers need to make decisions, this Minister needs to make some decisions.

RAY HADLEY: Ok. Do you think we could have a chat tomorrow after you have actually been inside one of the centres?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yeah we will see if we can arrange that Ray. The time delay makes it quite possible. We will be seeing some today so we will get in touch.

RAY HADLEY: I think people would want to have your insight into what happens inside there and how things look.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well look I think one of the good things Ray is that there has been a lot of improvements. People who are concerned with how people might be treated here, I mean, I’m sure the treatment is outstanding and certainly a lot better than some Australians might be experiencing in various cities around our country today or certainly in remote Australia.

RAY HADLEY: Well it is certainly better from whence they came that’s for sure, in relation to the people incarcerated there.

SCOTT MORRISON: No question. When they arrive they are very happy Ray, very, very happy.

RAY HADLEY: I’d imagine so, they’ve got their value for their money. Thank you very much. Hopefully tomorrow we will talk again.

Blog Post : Affirming our citizenship vows

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Blog Post

Affirming our citizenship vows

As our annual obsession with national identity reaches its peak, after weeks of debate into the meaning of red meat, high carb beverages and the quaint French phrase ‘oi, oi, oi’, here is one more idea to think about

On Australia Day 1999 the Coalition Government introduced the reaffirmation ceremony to mark 50 years of Australian Citizenship. It’s a pretty simple idea where natural born Australians join with those who are taking up citizenship for the first time to recite the pledge together:

“As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I uphold and obey.”

I like the idea and have suggested we take this up in my own local Council area in the Sutherland Shire in Sydney in future years. The appeal of the reaffirmation is that it’s inclusive.
Citizenship imposes obligations on all of us, not just those who sign up. Now I know we all understand this, but there is something about standing up, shoulder to shoulder, with those who are becoming Australians for the first time, and identifying that we have the same rights, responsibilities and obligations to our country.

It is also an opportunity for those whom citizenship has been a birthright to pause and reflect on just how lucky we are. New citizens have the opportunity to say it out loud. It’s nice to have the same opportunity.

What I like about citizenship is that it’s absolute. I cannot be more of an Australian citizen than you and vice versa. The act of saying this together is a great demonstration of this fact.

I know that many Australians are concerned that there is still a long way to go before all sub-groups within our broader Australian community are flowing effortlessly in the mainstream of Australian society. I agree that this should be the goal. The question is, are we helping or hindering this goal?

In the past we called this assimilation. Today, people get offended by this phrase, just as many dislike the word multiculturalism. These language anxieties are the product of too many politically charged and correct conversations. For me, I believe these words have the same objective.

You don’t have to deny your heritage to embrace your Australian future. But you cannot seek to create an Australia for yourself that simply mirrors what you left behind – isolated from the rest of our great community. Our shared values, culture and laws define what it is to be Australian, and that is what brings us together.

Last year I trekked Kokoda with a team of young people from the Shire and Bankstown with my friend and parliamentary colleague, Labor MP Jason Clare. What struck me most during those six and a half days of pain, was that we all shared one thing. The diggers died and sacrificed themselves for all of us – none more than the other.

They had no idea about who would be living in Australia in sixty years time. They died to defend Australia’s freedom and values and create a future for our country. A future where today 45% of Australians have been born overseas or at least one of their parents were. We are all part of this future they made possible and we had joined together to honour those that had bequeathed it to us.

As we stood at the Isurava Memorial Dr Jamal Rifi stood with the young Muslim Australians he had brought along with him, and said proudly in a mark of deep respect at this sacred Australian site, our faith is Islam our country is Australia. If you believe in freedom or religion as one of Australia’s great virtues, then you will really appreciate just how magnificent that statement was.

Dr Rifi is one of those extraordinary Muslim leaders in Sydney’s south west who champions daily bringing together his community into the mainstream of Australian society. He is a great Australian.

We do not help the Dr Rifi’s of our country when we allow attitudes of division and hatred to brew. Such attitudes play into the hands of those who favour exclusion and conflict from both sides of the debate. These negative individuals seek to define their communities by who is opposed to them and who they oppose, rather than what they are a part of. They like the ‘us and them’ narrative, it suits their purpose, but it is not in our national interest.

As Australians, we cannot allow the ‘us and them’ mentality to dominate our thinking. There is no ‘us and them’ if we are truly serious about what Australian citizenship really means.

Australia is an inclusive notion. We are not a combination of unrelated sub-communities who all happen to live on the same big island. We are a great Australian community that shares values, obligations and responsibilities to make what we leave behind, even better than what we inherited, whether by birth or choice.

So this year on Australia Day why not renew your vows. Go to the website www.australianaffirmation.org.au to learn more about it. It’s probably too late to get involved in any formal ceremony. So why not just do it around your BBQ with your family and your mates as an act of thanksgiving for the carcinogenic bounty you are about to receive.

Multimedia : Transcript: ABC Radio National Breakfast: Immigration and Population

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Host: James Carleton
Subject: Immigration and Population.
For Audio: Follow Weblink for download

James Carleton: Tony Abbott is using Australia Day to try and ignite a debate over immigration, but it’s not the kind that some might think. Like the Prime Minister, he says he’s in favour of a big Australia, he wants, quote, as many people as possible, unquote, to be allowed to settle in this country. Indeed he says it’s curious that so many Australians feel ambivalent to immigration because it’s been so central to our national experience from the very beginning. Australia Day if nothing else is a salute to an immigrant culture, not a condemnation of it, but he says, but he does include some caveats. Tony Abbott says Australia does make too few demands of migrants in some cases and also the great prize of Australian Citizenship can sometimes be insufficiently appreciated. Scott Morrison will have the job of turning these themes into policy. He’s the Shadow Minister for Immigration; with us now on Breakfast from his electorate of Cook which I might say was the scene of the Cronulla race riots almost exactly four years ago. Good morning, Mr Morrison.

Scott Morrison: Good morning, James.

James Carleton: Before we get to the leader’s speech, your leader’s speech at the Australia Day Council event on Friday, how do you reflect on the Cronulla situation in your electorate some four years on from those events?

Scott Morrison: Well, I think that the entire community has moved on. I think that the triumph that has occurred here is that the good-minded nature of people who live in the Shire has and always will rise above these sorts of events. I mean, last year, I trekked Kokoda with my friend Jason Clare, the Labor MP for Blaxland and we took youth from both of our communities as a part of the ongoing bridge-building process between our communities and frankly, you know, when this issue was constantly raised, I think it just focuses too much on where the whole thing start rather than where we got to, and I think we’ve made tremendous progress and I think it’s important to note that progress and encourage it, because simply just harking back to the things that happened, I think, really at the end of the day, only advantages those who want to perpetuate the conflict. I’m very keen on actually moving forward.

James Carleton: Turning to immigration generally in terms of gross numbers. We have close to half of the country was either born overseas or has a parent who was born overseas in Australia. Now that takes us way beyond even America, which is considered the great immigrant nation. Tony Abbott says we are built on immigration and yet it remains a matter of unreconciled anxiety for many in this country. Why is that?

Scott Morrison: Well, look, one of the really interesting things is, under the terms of the Coalition government, we actually doubled the immigration intake over that period of time, but some research done by Monash University showed that concerns in the community about immigration levels actually halved. Now there are some important reasons for that, but I would contend one of those is one of the points Tony highlighted in his speech, and our position on border protection, our position generally on immigration sent the message to Australians that the government was in control of the program, and people need to know that. They need to know that people just can’t arrive willy-nilly and that’s certainly not the case. Tony makes the important point that immigration is the basis upon which the prosperity we now enjoy exists, and so it’s a positive thing. It’s a great thing. It’s built our country and we effectively, except for the first Australians are all immigrants, so anxiety levels are significantly reduced when a government is on top of its game when it comes to managing the immigration program, and particularly when it comes to managing our borders, and in both of those cases, there are concerns with this government.

James Carleton: Explain that because if Australia’s population is increasing by tens of millions of people over decades by way of formalised immigration, why is so much attention paid to the unauthorised arrival of really tens of hundreds?

Scott Morrison: Well, as Tony made the point in his speech, these are not large numbers, but it’s an issue of whether we are in control of our borders or not and whether people feel comfortable about how a government is managing these issues. The population debate more broadly though I think is an important one. I mean Dick Smith has been talking about it today, and others have as well. I’ve raised it myself, and it’s very hard to have this debate in Australia because as soon as someone says, look, we have to have a chat about population, then people are quickly to either bring the race card to the debate or throw it around as an allegation against others who are talking about it, and I think that’s not the way to go, I’m sure your listeners and others would agree, I mean, there are some sensible discussions that have to take place around this. Our concern is the government has said, well, 35 million people by 2049 is just what it’s going to be, and that’s it. Well, 60 per cent of our population growth is attributed to immigration, 40 per cent to natural, so there are things you can do and we have to make judgments about what size a population the country will carry and what that impact will be on health, public transport and all the range of other services, water and so on, and that’s the debate we have to have. Race has nothing to do with it.

James Carleton: But that—no, indeed it doesn’t but in terms of your leader, Mr Abbott and the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, both are in favour of a significantly increasing Australian population. So perhaps the debate is not going to be held in the Parliament, if you will.

Scott Morrison: No, look, I think it will because what we’re saying, what Tony has said, what I’ve said, is that issues of carrying capacity have to be addressed. Now Tony has said, that, you know, all things being equal, he’s in favour of a larger Australia, but he’s very prepared and willing and keen to have this debate about carrying capacity and looking at what we can do, what our intake should be and how we should frame our policies. Kevin Rudd’s view is, we’ll just get used it, it’s going to happen, it’s just one of the many other things that I have no control over and you’re just going have to wear.

James Carleton: And then listening to that debate, should Australians in taking note that both the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister are in favour of a significantly increased population with immigration being a large part of that. For those that disagree with that position, for whatever reason…

Scott Morrison: Well, hang on, I can correct you where—Tony has not said a significantly increased population. He’s just talked about a population increasing. He hasn’t said he’s either subscribed to the 35 million number or not.

James Carleton: Quote, my instinct is to extend to as many people as possible the freedom and benefits of life in Australia, a larger population will bring that about, unquote.

Scott Morrison: Sure, he didn’t say significant.

James Carleton: Okay then, well, if given that both the Opposition and the Government are endorsing an increase in population by way of immigration, for citizens who aren’t inclined to that view, what is available to them politically?

Scott Morrison: Well, look, I don’t think the debates are polarised as that. I mean we can go with what the inter-generational report says and that would lead us to a population of 35 million by 2049. We can go with what Kelvin Thompson is saying, and that would leave us exactly where we are now. Now there are positions in between, which, you know, are more moderate, more progressive or however you might want to describe it, and I think that’s the debate that Tony is keen to have. It’s debate that I’m keen to have but it’s not a debate the Prime Minister’s keen to have. He wants us to accept this figure as writ and that’s it.

James Carleton: Scott Morrison, Thank you for your time this morning.

Scott Morrison: Thank you.

[ENDS]

Media Release : Morrison says let's renew our Australian vows

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local federal member for Cook and Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison has suggested that affirmation ceremonies form part of future Australia Day celebrations in the Sutherland Shire.

Mr Morrison said “Australia Day is a great celebration in the Shire and is an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we all are to live in such a great country and the best part of it. Our citizenship, whether by birth or choice, is something to celebrate and proclaim.

“I believe it would be a great if we extended the opportunity to affirm the a vow of citizenship on Australia Day for all local citizens, together with those taking up citizenship for the first time” he said.

In 1999 the Coalition Government introduced affirmation ceremonies to mark the fiftieth anniversary of citizenship. They are conducted in other local council areas, such as the Hills Shire. Further information about the affirmation ceremonies can be found @ www.australianaffirmation.org.au .

“Citizenship imposes obligations on all of us, not just those who sign up.

“We all understand and respect this, but there is something special about standing up, shoulder to shoulder, with those who are becoming Australians for the first time, and identifying that we all have the same rights, responsibilities and obligations to our country.

“It is also an opportunity for those whom citizenship has been a birthright to pause and reflect on just how lucky we are. New citizens have the opportunity to say it out loud. I believe it would be nice to have the same opportunity.

“It’s time we thought about taking this up as part of our regular programme of Australia day celebrations here in the Shire” Mr Morrison said.

“To get things rolling I have written to Mayor Kelly to seek Council support and look forward to finding a way to make the proposal work locally.

“The Council has done a great job of Australia Day celebrations over many years and this year will be no exception. I congratulate them on their efforts. However, we should always be open to new ideas.

“I also think it’s important to get community feedback so you can let me know what you think by visiting my website at www.scottmorrison.com.au and completing the online survey or leaving a comment. Alternatively you can just call the office on 9525 8200 during office hours. “

Happy Australia Day!”.?

Media Release : Two illegal boat arrivals in just twenty four hours

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The arrival of two more boats within just 24 hours for the second time this year is further evidence the Rudd Government has lost control of our borders, says Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.

Mr Morrison said “under the Rudd Government’s policy, undertaking this hazardous and treacherous voyage has become a certain ticket to permanent residence in Australia. No wonder the boats keep coming.

“This is the most dangerous time of year to undertake this hazardous voyage.

"The illegal arrival of 2 boats within 24 hours for the second time this year, carrying 73 passengers defies belief.

"We have now had 19 illegal boat arrivals so far this during these dangerous summer months, compared to just five this time last year.

“Not even the weather can provide a deterrent against the magnetic impact of the Government’s failed border protection policies” he said.

“It is time the Rudd Government ended their state of denial on their failed border protection policies where special deals and weakened controls have issued an open invitation to the clients of people smugglers.

Seventy five boats have now arrived since the Rudd Government started weakening the border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition Government.

“Against the back drop of reports that more than one hundred people may have perished on a boat recently it is time this madness was put to an end.

“Mr Rudd must draw himself away from his festival of self congratulation, swallow his pride and accept that his policies have failed and start making some hard decisions on toughening up our border controls.

“Australians do not want to see people perish at sea or their borders to be treated as optional by people smugglers. But this is what is taking place under the Rudd Government

“It is time for Mr Rudd to face reality. He cannot spin these boats away. He needs to make decisions that will send a message to people smugglers that their business will not succeed in Australia” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : SMH Reports on Bridge building between Shire and Bankstown communities

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The article focusses on the Kokoda Mateship Trek initiative led by Scott and parliamentary colleague Jason Clare last year involving young leaders from the Bate Bay Surf Life Saving Clubs and Lakemba Sports Club.

Click on the web link below to read the article published in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Multimedia : Opinion article, The Australian: Growth Is good when managed well

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

This week Kevin Rudd dismissed the role of immigration in addressing one of our largest national challenges, the aging of our population, relegating its impact to marginal.

The Prime Minister's dismissive attitude towards immigration policy indicates Labor's failure to appreciate the consequences of its decisions in this area. In the Rudd government, immigration and border protection are taking a back seat.

While both sides of politics have supported Australia's immigration program, we differ in our priorities, track record, ability to manage and beliefs about the contribution immigration should make.

Popular demonising of Coalition immigration policy cannot be reconciled with recent research by Monash University, showing that despite the Coalition doubling the country's annual immigration intake when last in government (that's right, doubling it), we managed to halve community concerns about the level of immigration.

In 1997 we accepted just 73,900 permanent migrants. According to Monash's Andrew Markus, almost two-thirds of Australians at that time (when Pauline Hanson was in the ascendancy) thought our annual immigration intake was too high.

In response the Howard government more than doubled the annual immigration intake over the next decade to a peak of 158,630 and those concerned about immigration fell to just over one-third of the population.

During the same decade, more than two million jobs were created and unemployment was halved. It is not surprising that Markus found a high correlation between lower unemployment and reduced concerns about immigration. When you manage things well, people are more likely to go with you.

The immigrant population is too often the first in the firing line when we fear things are not heading in the right direction. Problems with hospitals, roads, public transport, environment, water shortages and and even rising house prices are all sheeted home to too much immigration.

I would argue that rising concerns about immigration levels may be more about community disaffection with how things are being managed by our governments.

There is no doubt that Australia's population growth since World War II has been the driving force behind our expanded capacity as a nation and the prosperity that we now enjoy.

Today, 45 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was. We are an immigrant nation and there is broad public acceptance, according to Markus, for the view that bringing immigrants from many different countries makes Australia stronger.

A recent Australian National University study found that net migration of 180,000 a year would add a full 10 percentage points to growth in gross domestic product per capita.

And research by Access Economics shows that every permanent migrant adds $20,000 to the budget bottom line over their first four years. For one year's intake, this presently represents more than $3.6 billion.

Skilled migrants account for more than 90 per cent of this contribution.

These figures provide a salient reminder to a federal government swimming in debt and deficit. Growth has been good for Australia and can be good again, but this outcome won't happen by itself.

This is not an argument for a population blank cheque.

We need a well-managed population policy that sets down important preconditions before allowing our population to rise. Given that immigration accounts for almost 60 per cent of population growth, we can do something about it.

Rudd is asking Australians to accept that our projected population increase is just another issue he cannot control and is not responsible for.

We need to decide how we intend to manage and how much we will invest in our infrastructure, our environment, especially water, and our services. We need to decide the size of the workforce we will need to support an ageing population, which only skilled migration can substantively address.

To take housing affordability, for example, we must agree what changes need to be made to planning policies and how much land must be released for development. Labor failures in these areas, especially in NSW, are the real reasons for declining housing affordability - not migrants bidding up prices.

Only once we contend with these issues and trade-offs can we know how large a population we can sustainably support and responsibly set the level and composition of our immigration intake.

Already Labor has cut the skills component of the annual immigration intake from 68 per cent to a planned 64 per cent, while increasing the family intake by more than 20 per cent from levels set by the Coalition.

Labor's shift back to the family program is consistent with its form in government: last time it comprised almost 70 per cent of the annual intake. At the end of the Coalition's term we had reversed the balance, increasing the proportion of skilled migration to almost 70 per cent.

Labor's shift away from skilled migration will impose greater costs on our nation.

Studies demonstrate a higher cost to our budget as non-skilled migrants have higher demand for services and welfare, lower levels of English proficiency and are less likely to find employment and pay tax. Citizenship test results also reveal less understanding of Australian values and culture.

Of course we must continue to honour our international obligations for humanitarian resettlement. However, this does not mean allowing people smugglers to decide who benefits from Australia's generosity, as is occurring under Labor's border protection failures.

If Labor is also allowed to wind back skilled migration, as proposed by Labor MP Kelvin Thomson, then we will not only have to support an ageing Australian population in the future but an increasingly welfare-dependent immigrant population as well.

Unlike Rudd, I do not consider this outcome to be of marginal impact.

The Coalition is determined to give Australians a mature debate on these important population and immigration questions.

Multimedia : Interview with 2GB's Ray Hadley on border protection

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Ray Hadley talks to Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison about the 11 detainees on Christmas Island charged over last year’s detention centre brawl.

Click website link below to listen to the interview.

Media Release : Rudd ignores immigration's impact on ageing population

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today Mr Rudd is seriously underestimating the impact that Australia’s migration intake will have on our ability to address our future population challenges including ageing.

“Last night Mr Rudd sidelined the critical role immigration will play in determining the future shape of Australia as a nation and how we will cope with the demands of an ageing population, stating the contribution would be ‘marginal’,” Mr Morrison said.

“Mr Rudd’s dismissive attitude towards immigration policy highlights Labor’s failure to appreciate the consequences of their own actions and decisions in this area. Whether it is their haphazard and weak approach to border protection or their lukewarm commitment to preserving the integrity and prominence of our skilled migration programme, it is further evidence of the formless void that has become Labor’s immigration policy in government,” he said.

“Already Labor has cut the skills component of our annual immigration intake from 68.4% to a planned 64.1% this year. At the same time the family component will increase this year by more than 20% from levels set by the Coalition.

“It took the Howard Government 12 years to tip the balance back in favour of skilled migration which increased from 29.2% in 95/96 to 68.4% in 07/08, while increasing our overall immigration intake from 82,500 to 158,630.

“If Labor is allowed to wind back the proportion of skilled migrants, as is currently proposed by Labor MP Kelvin Thomson, then we will not only be having to support an ageing Australian population in the future, but also an increasingly welfare dependent immigrant population as well.

“The change in mix of our immigration intake away from skilled migration will impose greater costs on our nation.

“Studies undertaken for the Department of Immigration demonstrate a higher cost to our budget as non-skills related migrants are more likely to demand government services and welfare, have lower levels of English proficiency and are less likely to find employment and pay tax. Results from the Coalition’s Citizenship test also reveal a lesser understanding of Australian values and culture.

“Skilled migration provides the only real short to medium term option to increase the number of people who can form part of our labour force and generate the revenue and provide the services needed to support an ageing population.

“Mr Rudd’s dismissal of the role of immigration and his ambivalence about restoring the economic integrity of our immigration programme and the contribution it will make to our capacity as a nation is very concerning,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Morrison urges Shire residents to have their say in Airservices Australia inquiry

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison, today urged Shire residents to make submissions to the Federal Parliament’s inquiry into Airservices Australia’s management of aircraft noise.

“Airservices Australia is responsible for ensuring that aircraft noise is properly managed and does not unfairly impact on residents. Since Shire residents bear the brunt of aircraft noise caused by Sydney Airport it is vital that their views are taken into account on the critical issues overseen by Airservices Australia,” Mr Morrison said.

“The review by the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and transport, will focus particularly on whether Airservices has maintained an open and informative public consultation process and pursued equitable noise sharing arrangements,” he said.

“Airservices does not have an unblemished record. Just last year I forced them to investigate their new highway in the sky over the Shire which they had originally failed to acknowledge.

“Airservices increased aircraft movements ten-fold along the narrow 200 metre corridor running from Five Dock to the Shire, affecting the suburbs of Kareela, Sylvania, Miranda, Gymea and Gymea Bay.

“The flight path was introduced by stealth and was in breach of the Long Term Operating Plan (LTOP) for Sydney Airport introduced by the Coalition Government to ensure noise was shared and where possible directed planes over water.

"Failures such as these must not be allowed to happen. If Airservices Australia wants to change the rules, then they must consult the communities that will be impacted.

"I encourage all Shire residents affected by aircraft noise, particularly those who have felt let down by Airservices, to make their feelings known to the inquiry,” Mr Morrison said.

Submissions to the Airservices inquiry can be made via rrat.sen@aph.gov.au or mailed to Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.

Submissions close on January 29.

Media Release : Morrison welcomes Abbott's support for Kurnell

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison today welcomed Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s support for the work of dedicated volunteers who are helping to conserve our environment and heritage at Botany Bay National Park at Kurnell.

“I welcome Mr Abbott’s visit to support the hard working members of Conservation Volunteers Australia who have undertaken significant work to help the environment of the Botany Bay National Park at Kurnell,” Mr Morrison said.

"Volunteer efforts such as these have stepped into the breach to offer crucial preservation works at Cook’s Landing Place and the National Park,” he said.

“I am also pleased Mr Abbott highlighted these local works as the basis for his plan to form a national conservation corps that will support practical local efforts to look after our environment that makes the Shire such a great place to live.

“Whether it is the regular activities of Bushcare or River Keepers or getting out there on Clean Up Australia Day, the Shire has a proud record of volunteering to look after our local environment. It's in the Shire's DNA,” he said.

“Mr Abbott's plan to foster and encourage practical environmental action will therefore be especially welcome here in the Shire where community service and passion for our local environment go hand in hand,” Mr Morrison said.

Shire residents wishing to register for this year’s Clean Up Australia Day on March 7, can visit www.cleanup.org.au. Alternatively if you would like to support Bushcare e-mail Bushcare@ssc.nsw.gov.au or to support River Keepers e-mail alison@georgesriver.org.au

Media Release : Mr Rudd all talk no action, as another illegal boat arrives at an overcrowded Christmas Island

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The illegal arrival of another boat last night north west of the Ashmore Islands carrying 27 passengers and three crew brings the number of illegal boat arrivals to 73, carrying 3100 passengers, since Mr Rudd promised he would ‘turn back sea worthy boats’ , prior to the last election, according to Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.

Mr Morrison said “before the last election, Mr Rudd led Australians to believe that he would be a safe pair of hands on border protection, as he echoed Mr Howard on illegal boat arrivals at every opportunity, including the day before the election when he promised he would ‘turn back seaworthy boats’.

“More than two years later, we have had 73 boats arrive carrying more than 3100 passengers. This includes 15 boats in just the last six weeks, during the dangerous summer months, which represents a more than fivefold increase on the same period last year” he said.

“According to the Department of Immigration’s monthly statistics, there were 1,287 people detained on Christmas Island at the beginning of December 2009. 1053 of these detainees were located in the centre that the Government’s own reports show has a ‘regular use capacity’ of just 400.

“On December 1, a statement by the Rudd Government said Christmas Island had a reconfigured capacity of 1400, which would be boosted to 1600 by mid December. This included demountable accommodation relocated from indigenous housing in Alice Springs and tents. They stated that further increases in capacity would not be completed until March 2010.

“Since the Government issued this release, more than 600 additional people in fifteen boats have been brought to or are on their way to Christmas Island, including those intercepted last night.

“Given the continuing unrest amongst the detainee population on the island, including violent clashes following the special deal offered to the Oceanic Viking passengers last year and further protests in the past week, it is time the Rudd Government came clean on the status of facilities at Christmas Island.

“As a start they must reveal the over due statistics on current population of detainees on Christmas Island, including those in community detention, other forms of temporary detention and how many boats are moored in the harbour.

“I propose to visit Christmas Island at the earliest opportunity once the Government agrees to my proposal and allows my use of commercial air services and prescheduled departmental charters to minimise the cost to taxpayers, which were denied to my predecessor in this role.

“The purpose of the visit will be to see first hand what is going on and how the local community, immigration staff and defence personnel are coping with the influx of arrivals.

“I am also naturally keen to see the conditions that detainees are living under. When the Coalition Government built this facility, it was clear that 800 beds would be more than enough under our polices. Labor agreed, even going so far to call Christmas Island a white elephant.

“Under the Rudd Government’s policies, Christmas Island has become a tent city and it’s only getting worse.

“It is not right that our officials and defence personnel should have to work overtime and under such extreme pressure simply because of the policy failures and weak decisions of the Rudd Government.

“The answer is to stop the boats. Something Mr Rudd was happy to talk about before the election, but unable and unwilling to deliver in Government.

It’s just another example of what Australians all over the country are realising about Mr Rudd – all talk, no action” Mr Morrison said.

Event : The Write Touch

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:27:08 GMT

Event

The Write Touch

Saturday 23rd January 2010

Time : 09:00:00

Location : Hazelhurst Art Gallery

Event Details:

Calligraphy Southscribes presents their Bi-Annual Calligraphy Exhibition. 'The Write Touch' displays traditional and modern calligraphy works from members of Calligraphy Southscribes and other invited calligraphers. Come along and view the exhibition, buy a piece, enter the viewers choice draw or find out about classes and membership at Calligraphy Southscribes.

Media Release : Illegal boat arrivals up 450% over summer

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

The number of illegal boat arrivals has increased by more than fourfold so far this summer according to Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison, highlighting the continuing failure of the Rudd Labor Government’s weak decisions and failed policies on border protection.

Mr Morrison said “the illegal arrival of the second boat for 2010 within just 12 hours of the last one, carrying 30 more passengers, is the fourteenth boat to arrive this summer. This compares to just three boats for the same period last year.

“Last year only six boats risked the more dangerous summer months. This summer we are already nearly double that number with almost two months still to go.

“It is clear that not even the monsoon can counteract the magnetic impact of the Rudd Government's failed polices and weak decisions on border protection.
In total there were 178 people on board the boats that arrived illegally over last summer. This summer there has already been 584 people arrive.

Mr Morrison said “of greater concern is the fact that at the end of last summer the detention population on Christmas Island was just over 150 people. We have had that many people arrive in just the last week, and boats are now arriving at will.

“With the Rudd Government refusing to consider off shore processing alternatives or any changes to their failed policies, it is only a matter of time before the Government transfers more people from Christmas island to the mainland for processing, totally undermining our offshore processing regime.

“The Rudd Government cannot continue with their weak decisions and failed policies and expect a different outcome.

“They can also not expect to gain the respect of our regional partners in combating the people smuggling trade, when the Rudd Government’s policies are the reason the people smugglers are able to offer such an attractive product.

“In 2010 Mr Rudd and Minister Evans must fix the border protection mess they have created, Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : Transcript and audio link - ABC Newsradio

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Click on the link below to listen to the interview.

Subject: Rudd Government’s failed border protection policies

MARIUS BENSON: Scott Morrison another boat has arrived in Australian waters, the first of the year carrying 76 people. What would an Abbott led government have done with that boat?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it’s taken less than 72 hours for the first boat to arrive in Australian waters. 2010 has basically started the same way 2009 concluded. This boat was intercepted just north of Christmas Island and it is just one of so many boats that arrive because of the weak decisions and failed policies of the Rudd Government.

MARIUS BENSON: Tony Abbott has spoken last week of advocating a new policy of turning boats back. That doesn’t seem to have gone down well with Indonesia. A foreign ministry spokesman is quoted in the papers this morning as saying ‘I don’t believe we would be very happy with that policy’.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the reason they won’t be happy at the moment is because of the relationship that exists on co-operation on border protections measures such as this. I mean it would be a very difficult policy to implement at the moment because of the way the Rudd Government has handled that relationship and Tony has made that point himself as well. One of the things in order to pursue policies such as that, as we did when we were in government, was because we had a strong working relationship with the Indonesian government in handling these things. Now the Rudd Government has completely shattered that relationship through its handling of things such as the Merak [boat]and the Oceanic Viking and as a result it would be a difficult policy to implement t at the moment. So one of the first things we would have to do is restore trust and faith with the Indonesian Government that we were serious about bringing the people smuggler’s traffic to zero. When they knew we were serious about removing the pull factors then I am sure we would have a much better working relationship with the Indonesian Government to ensure we could look at other options and other measures which would ensure we could bring the boats to zero.

MARIUS BENSON: Could I just get some clarity on what the Opposition policy on turning boats back is because Tony Abbott as reported in the papers as saying turning back the boats was the policy. Later on, I think it was Thursday last week, he spoke about it and he spoke about it as saying it would only be a last resort after other measures were considered and it would only be done if it was considered safe and that the people could be safely returned to their homeland. These are very time consuming activities determining those sort of questions while the boat is floating off the Australian coast.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the government and others have run commentary on Tony’s comments but Tony said in the first case this would only be considered in specific circumstances, where the circumstances allow and that was very clear. As a result those circumstances would have to determine what the action was. As I have said all along, what Tony was saying is to people smugglers - that we would be considering every single option available to us to stop these boats. Last year the government said there were 60 boats. Now that’s more boats than arrived in 12 years after the end of the Vietnam War. That’s a massive surge in boat arrivals. We believe that has a significant amount to do with the pull factors associate with the government’s decisions and policies. Now when we were in government and we had a surge in arrivals we did something about it. This government is planning on doing nothing about it. They are not changing their policies. They are not changing their decisions they are just waving the next boat on and we don’t think that’s a good way of running a border protection policy.

MARIUS BENSON: Just looking back at the years following the Vietnam War. You said there was not a surge in boat arrivals then but that was because the Fraser Government decided to accept people directly into Australia rather than running what they saw as a fear of boats coming to the Australian coast.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s not quite true. What occurred is 97% of the more than 100,000 refugees we took following the Vietnam War were processed offshore. We ran an offshore processing regime when we took asylum seekers after the Vietnam War, as we should. We should have taken more and we did and it was the Fraser Government that lifted the intake to 20,000 that year but they were processed offshore. These people were not predominantly arriving by boat illegally and were being processed on the Australian mainland or even a place like Christmas Island. They were being processed in places like Indonesia, in the Philippines, and the UNHCR were determining who had asylum status and when that asylum status was proven then Australia did as we’ve always done, accepted our responsibility and ran a humanitarian program. Now the Coalition’s not suggesting anything different to that. We took offshore processing to a new level when we were in government and the government now is starting to dismantle these arrangements which is putting our borders, and frankly the fairness of our border protection regime and humanitarian regime at risk.

Media Release : Another year, another day, another illegal boat arrival under the Rudd Labor Government

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT

It has taken less than 72 hours for the first boat to illegally arrive in Australian waters in 2010 according the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.

The first boat of 2010 was intercepted just three miles north of Christmas Island, carrying 76 passengers and four crew.

Mr Morrison said “It would seem that not even the onset of the monsoon season has been able to overwhelm the magnetic impact of the Rudd Government’s weak decisions and failed policies on border protection.

“In 2009 more people arrived illegally by boat than in the 12 years following the Vietnam war.

“Mr Rudd must finally act on his pledge to stop the boats and put an end to his failed policies in 2010 by restoring the strong border protection regime he inherited from the Coalition Government that saw just 18 boats arrive in our last six years in Government. In 2009 the Rudd Government says that 60 boats arrived” he said.

There are 10,479,520 people currently classified as being refugees or in a refugee like situation around the world according to the UNHCR 2008 Global trends report.

Mr Morrison said “ the Coalition strongly supports the resettlement of refugees in Australia. When last in Government we resettled more than 100,000 people under our refugee and humanitarian settlement programmes. Today, Australia settles approximately 13,500 people each year under these programmes with additional benefits, with the full support of the Coalition.

“ Millions of refugees are in desperate situations in camps all around the world, where death and disease is commonplace. All of these people and families deserve a fair chance at a place in Australia. For many it will be their only hope.

“ The Coalition does not want to see that chance continue to be taken away by the weak polices of the Rudd Labor Government that increasingly lets people smugglers decide who gets to come to Australia. That is why we are so adamant that Mr Rudd cleans up the border protection mess he has created” Mr Morrison said .

Media Release : Mr Rudd must fix his border protection mess as new year's resolution

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Mr Rudd and Minister Evans must make 2010 the year they put an end to their weak decisions and failed policies on border protection, following the arrival of yet another boat in the last few hours of 2009, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“The last illegal boat arrival on new year’s eve, carrying 58 passengers with one passenger in need of critical medical care, highlights again the dangerous nature of the people smuggling business that puts lives at risk. It also highlights once again the magnetic effect of the Rudd Government’s failed polices and weak decisions on border protection,” Mr Morrison said.

“We need to stop this trade and put the people smugglers out of business. You cannot do this with weak decisions and failed policies,” he said.

“The Coalition supports the resettlement of legitimate refugees in Australia.

“It was the Menzies Government that signed the UN Refugee Convention. It was the Fraser Government that raised our refugee intake following the Vietnam War. And it was the Howard Government that accepted over 100,000 refugees and smashed the people smuggling business that preyed on their desperation.

“To put this last year in context, more people arrived illegally by boat during the past twelve months under the Rudd Government, than during the 12 years following the Vietnam War.

“In total, Australia accepted 108,641 Indochinese refugees between 1976 and 1988. However during this time, only 2,059 people arrived illegally by boat. More than 97% were processed offshore, as also occurred under the Howard Government, and accepted into Australia under our refugee resettlement programme.

“This is a debate about the fairness and integrity of our refugee and humanitarian resettlement programmes.

There is not a debate about Australia’s willingness to take refugees. It is about ensuring that the Australian Government makes the decisions on our refugee intake, not people smugglers.

“Under the Rudd Government, we have lost control of our borders. People’s lives are being put at risk and the fairness and integrity of our refugee and humanitarian settlement programmes has also been compromised.

“In 2010 Mr Rudd and Minister Evans must make a new year’s resolution to clean up the mess they have created out of our border protection regime,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : People smugglers 59, not out, as another illegal boat arrives

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison, said today the illegal arrival of the third boat in just 48 hours, carrying 48 passengers intercepted west of the Ashmore Islands at 9 am yesterday morning by the ACV Ashmore Guardian brings this year’s total to 59 illegal boat arrivals.

“With a full day still ahead and the people smugglers ‘still at the crease’ there is no guarantee this will be the last illegal boat to arrive this year under the Rudd Government. That is how absurd the failure of the Rudd Government’s border protection policies have become,” Mr Morrison said

“It seems clear to everyone, except Mr Rudd and Labor, that they have lost control of our borders” he said.

“With the monsoon season now upon us, the only deterrent Australia has against people smugglers under the Rudd Government is the weather.

“However, the people smugglers know that while the weather will pass, Kevin Rudd and Labor’s policies will remain.

“The Coalition also remains concerned that the Government assure Australians that the integrity of health, security and identity checks is not being compromised by the influx of illegal arrivals and the overcrowding on Christmas Island, denied by the Government. Minister Evans and the Government have so far refused to provide this assurance.

“All we hear from the Government as each illegal boat arrives is the same ‘who cares’ press release – another day, another illegal boat arrival, it’s just another day at the office for Minister Evans and Mr Rudd.”

Mr Morrison also said we must be mindful of the conditions we are asking our defence force, immigration, and customs staff to work under.

“Mr Rudd and Labor’s failed policies are putting all of our border protection staff and agencies under more stress and strain than is necessary,” he said.

“Mr Rudd and Labor’s special deals and continued weakening of our policy settings means our border protection command has to work overtime to make up for the Rudd Government’s failure to maintain the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition.

“With a full day still ahead of us one thing is sure, if another boat doesn’t illegally arrive today, the next one will not be far away under the Rudd Government,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Labor lets people smugglers decide

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison, said today the government’s failed border protection policies and indifference as each new boat arrives is placing significant pressure on the integrity of our humanitarian programmes, following the arrival of the 59th boat this year, intercepted yesterday by HMAS Maitland.

"Only last week the Rudd Government was denying that two further boats were on their way. Now just days later two further boats have arrived and their passengers have been sent to Christmas Island, which is now full to the brim," Mr Morrison said.

"Labor are now bringing detainees from Christmas Island to the mainland to ease overcrowding, before their asylum claims have been tested, putting at risk the integrity of our offshore processing system," he said.

"The overcrowding and Labor’s failure to consider other offshore processing options is undoubtedly putting unnecessary pressure on the assessments being undertaken on people’s asylum claims, as well as important identity, health and security checks.

"Given the significant increase in arrivals and the critical situation on Christmas Island, it is essential that the Rudd Government reassure Australians that there are no corners being cut in undertaking these important background and health checks, in order to move the process along.

"Minister Evans must state clearly that there has been no change to the processes used for health , identity and security checks and the testing of asylum claims and that these processes are being employed in full, no exceptions.

"When the Coalition was faced with a surge in illegal boat arrivals in 2000 and 2001 we took action to protect our borders and restore integrity to our immigration processes and humanitarian programmes. Our actions stopped the boats.

"The Rudd Government is indifferent to the illegal arrival of these boats and refuses to take action. Labor are wilfully ignoring the magnetic impact of their own weak policies and actions on encouraging the business of people smuggling.

"Instead, as each boat arrives it’s just another day at the office under Labor. The same repetitive, turgid statement is generated by their spin machine to greet each boat, saying it has nothing to do with them. Labor need to understand they cannot spin the boats away.

"The Coalition Government proudly accepted more than 100,000 refugees and others in similar circumstances under our humanitarian programme during the term of our government. We strongly support Australia doing our fair share and are committed to Australia’s target of settling 13,500 people each year under these programmes.

"We want to make sure that our generosity goes to those who need it most. There are more than 10 million people in the world who are currently classed as refugees or in similar circumstances. We take 13,500 people each year under our programmes.

"We need to ensure that we have a process that is fair and that we spend our efforts helping those who are granted residence in our country to integrate into our community and make a contribution.

"Labor’s special deals and weak policies are letting the people smugglers decide who gets to come to Australia. That is no way to run a country", Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Support the Pink Lads Challenge 2009-10 for McGrath Foundation

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Local Federal MP for Cook, Scott Morrison, is calling on the Shire to get behind Glenn Gorrick and his team of Pink Lads as they run from Melbourne to Sydney to raise funds for the McGrath foundation.

The Pink Lads are about to go on another McGrath Foundation fund raiser running from the Melbourne cricket 12pm 29/12/09 ground to the Sydney Cricket ground 12pm 5/1/10.

The running route will take the team through the towns of Albury, Wagga, Yass, Canberra, Goulburn, Mittagong, Campbelltown, Bankstown, Sutherland, Cronulla, and then around the MS,M7,M2, over the Harbour bridge and into the SCG at 12pm on the 5^th of January.

During the run they will be carrying a pink stump to be used at the SCG.

Their only home is a very small minibus, which they will not be allowed to leave unless they're running.

Each runner will tag 10ks every 8 hrs running 30 klms per day with a total of 250 klms in the 6 six days. An SBS camera man will live on the bus with the team and record all the antics to be hopefully made into an interesting documentary.

Please check out their blog site http://pinklads.blogspot.com or go to www.gofundraise.com.au and type in Pinklads. The McGrath Foundation website has links to the site as well.

Donations to the McGrath Foundation are already coming in. If you wish to donate use the gofundraise site or direct EFT to BSB 802330 Acc 10027851. The Pink lads appreciate any donations and will issue a receipt if requested.

Please listen in daily to 2GB Ben Fordham 9am to 12md or Glenn Wheeler 7pm to 12am where we will update everyone on the run and keep a look out for us on Channel Nine during the test coverage.

Media Release : Transcript - ABC Radio National breakfast program

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Subject: asylum seeker transfers from Christmas Island to Australian mainland

JAMES CARLETON: So what’s your objection to these people being moved to the mainland, because it has no bearing on the outcome necessarily does it?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s in dispute but of greater significance is this and that is that offshore processing and the excision policy that was put in place by the Howard Government was the cornerstone to the border protection and security arrangements that we put in place in government that brought the boats to zero. Now the government is fiddling with that and they are not being upfront with the Australian people about what they are doing here. We’ve had a small number of people who have been moved to Melbourne, mainly youths but the bigger issue here is that this is a broader policy of the government that now that Christmas Island is full, that the option that they will take is simply just to transfer people en masse from Christmas Island to Australia. So Christmas Island goes from being what it is now, a tent city, to basically a transit stop and the message that will send to people smugglers will be the best Christmas present they have had since the Rudd Government was elected in 2007. It undermines the complete integrity of the message that is sent by our offshore processing system but also raises some very murky legal issues. The government cannot be 100 per cent certain about what the status of people’s claims will be if they are brought to the mainland…

JAMES CARLETON: Why?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the Migration Act simply is silent on the matter…

JAMES CARLETON: It’s silent on onshore and offshore processings. But why would offshore and onshore processing result in different outcomes?

SCOTT MORRISON: Because once you have been transferred to the mainland your status may be unclear. You enter, if you come through Christmas Island, as an offshore entry person. Now when we were in government and we had to transfer people…

JAMES CARLETON: But your status is unclear in both places.

SCOTT MORRISON: No, I’m talking about your status before the Australian Courts and your ability to appeal and to move through the Australian court system. When were in government when we transferred people from Manus and Nauru to the mainland we put a provision in the Migration Act which enabled us to do that for a temporary purpose and the temporary purpose was very clear. Now what is happening here is not a temporary purpose. What is happening here is a transfer of people from Christmas Island to the mainland because it is full, because the government’s policies have failed and Christmas Island is full. So instead of looking for alternative offshore processing options, which is what the Coalition did, they have gone for the soft option just to bring people to Australia.

JAMES CARLETON: And you want them processed offshore so they can be denied access to Australian courts. Is that the case?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s the whole purpose of the offshore processing system but equally that also sends I believe a strong deterrent message to people smugglers more importantly. The undermining of the offshore processing regime is just one in a string of underminings this government has undertaken since they came to office. That process of what I call fiddling with the thermostat on border protection has resulted in – the Navy said it themselves just the other day – 56 boats intercepted this year alone and there are 64 that have been intercepted since the government started changing the policies.

JAMES CARLETON: You say it is the government sending the welcome message but by that definition didn’t John Howard ultimately do the same because many of the Tampa refugees now live happily in Australia?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well John Howard’s record speaks for itself, the boats went to zero. Under Kevin Rudd they have gone to 64 since he started changing things…

JAMES CARLETON: Well the boat that approached the Tampa was one boat and the people who were on that boat many of them now live in Australia, so…

SCOTT MORRISON: Well people’s claims can be tested and [inaudible] people’s claims should be tested, they should be tested offshore as they were in all of those cases and not brought to the mainland where their asylum claims can be reviewed. That was the whole point…

JAMES CARLETON: But if they are tested fairly onshore and offshore processing in the first instance would have the same outcome…

SCOTT MORRISON: No, no it wouldn’t that’s the point, it wouldn’t…

JAMES CARLETON: But they would be found to be refugees both on Christmas Island and on the Australian mainland, if indeed they were refugees as was the case with the Tampa and that’s why they are now living in Australia.

SCOTT MORRISON: Sure but the issue is those who aren’t and the issue is the opportunity they have then to pursue appeals in the Australian court system because they have been processed onshore rather than offshore. Now the government will make the claim that they can bring people to Christmas Island to Australia and that will not affect any rights of appeal but that at best is murky legal territory and at worst it is sending a message to people smugglers that you can get your customers all the way, be it from Indonesia, through Christmas Island as a transit stop, all the way to Australia and that’s how you send messages to people smugglers to let them know you are open for business. Now that is what the Howard Government changed, that is what we remain absolutely committed to in Opposition. Our policy has not skipped a beat on this, it’s the government who’s decided to soften the processes and as a result we have the outcome of Christmas Island, which they described as a white elephant when they were in Opposition, under their policies it is a tent city. Under this policy it will be a transit station.

JAMES CARLETON: The present situation obviously is a lot different from the Tampa situation and you’re right, the message is different but it is not the outcome message it is the media message isn’t it? We saw pictures of SAS troops raiding a Norwegian freighter famously and of course we don’t see those pictures now, there’s a media shutdown on Christmas Island. But the message to the refugees, they presumedly didn’t much care what is on the television screen, they want to come to Australia and indeed they have in both instances.

SCOTT MORRISON: My concern is the message you send to people smugglers That’s what border protection is about. There will always be people who are seeking asylum…

JAMES CARLETON: And well there were always be people smuggler won’t there?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well only if you are giving them a good product and that’s what the Rudd Government is giving them. They are giving them a product which says you can get yourself now all the way to the Australian mainland. If this is a broader policy and not just a one off that we’ve seen now with the transfer of people to Melbourne, our concern is that this is a change in policy, a change in policy that they have not announced, that they have not been up front with the Australian people about and they are trying to slip through on Christmas Eve. Now the government has form on these types of announcements and they have form with not being up front with people. If they are going to make this massive change to our border protection policies then they need to tell the Australian people. Kevin Rudd needs to tell the Australian people what he is doing and not just try to sweep it under the carpet because Australians feel very strong about the integrity and fairness of our systems of how people come to this country and he cant walk away from that and try and just adopt a who cares approach in terms of how many people turn up and when they turn up and who brings them here.

JAMES CARLETON: So as a solution you are proposing the government find other offshore processing. Should that be Australian territory or are you happy to pay a foreign neighbour to do the process or to hold…

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s the homework the government should be doing now, it’s the homework we did when we were in government. But the government isn’t even interested…

JAMES CARLETON: And you came up with Nauru so I’m just wondering if…

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we did. We came up with Nauru, we came up with Manus and both of those alternatives provided a solution at that time. Now it’s for the government to find the solution to this time…

JAMES CARLETON: Well the islands are still there. Presumably the detention centres on those islands are still there as well…

SCOTT MORRISON: Well that’s a matter for the government. Now the government has to decide whether to do that or to bring people onshore. Now…

JAMES CARLETON: Is there any reason that comes to mind why those places would be inappropriate?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well only the government could answer that question because they know their status…

JAMES CARLETON: Really?

SCOTT MORRISON: Yeah well only the government has access to the condition of those facilities presently. I don’t have access to that information.

JAMES CARLETON: Well presuming they are in the same condition as you left them.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I can’t make that assumption, I don’t know whether that is true or not. But this is the point, this is the government’s watch. The government has to make a choice about whether they are going to bring people onshore or they are going to preserve the integrity of the offshore processing system. What we are seeing with the announcement last night and the reports today is that they are going down the path of just simply saying, look Christmas Island is full, they don’t even acknowledge why Christmas Island is full, which is a result of their policies, and they are now going to send a further soft message to people smugglers which says you can get all the away to Australia. That is our concern, that the government seems to be indifferent to the impact of their policies on this situation. That’s our frustration. They can’t even admit that they are the problem.

Media Release : Kevin Rudd's secret Christmas present to people smugglers

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The decision by the Rudd Government to transfer people from Christmas Island to the mainland under the cover of Christmas will send the wrong message to people smugglers and compromise yet again the strong border protection regime Labor inherited from the Coalition Government.

“Christmas Island is full because of the failed policies of the Rudd Government. Rather than seek to maintain the integrity of our offshore processing regime, the Rudd Government has chosen the soft option and begun transferring detainees whose asylum claims have not been determined, to the mainland,” Mr Morrison said.

“The is the best Christmas present people smugglers have had since the election of the Rudd Government in 2007 and opens up some murky legal territory for those whose claims are ultimately rejected,” he said.

“People smugglers can now say to asylum seekers that they can transport them all the way to the Australian mainland with a transit stop on Christmas Island, when the Australian Government will take over the rest of the voyage.

“What is worse is the underhanded and sneaky way they have sought to introduce this major change under the cover of Christmas and pretend it is business as usual.

“Under the Coalition Government, transfers of detainees to the mainland occurred under strict conditions and for temporary purposes only, such as medical emergencies. These transfers were also made possible by our changes to the Migration Act that quarantined the legal status of the detainees during their time on the mainland.

“The Rudd Government has made no such changes to the Act to put the legal questions beyond doubt for these transfers and is basically taking a punt.

“The transfers being carried out by the Rudd Government are permanent and are for no other reason than that Christmas Island is full.

“The notion of ‘priority processing’ is just more spin from the Rudd Government trying to sweep away offshore processing under the cover of Christmas.

“The Coalition accepted more than 100,000 refugees and we reduced the number of illegal arrivals by boat to zero. We introduced the offshore processing policy as the centrepiece of our strong border protection regime.

“Unlike the Rudd government we remain totally committed to offshore processing and believe the Government should be taking the hard decision to identify alternative offshore processing options, as the Coalition did when in Government.

“This is Labor’s watch. It is up to Labor to take the hard decisions to protect the integrity of our borders.

“Instead Labor have rolled over again, just as they did on their special deal for the Oceanic Viking and their numerous other changes to the regime they inherited from the Coalition.

“After describing it as a white elephant in Opposition, Labor have now turned Christmas Island into a tent city through their failed policies. Under this latest change, Christmas Island will soon become a transit lounge used by people smugglers to get their passengers to the mainland,” Mr Morrison said.

Blog Post : Cook, Year in Review 2009

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Blog Post

Cook, Year in Review 2009

It's been a big year in Cook.

In March we mourned the tragic loss of Sergeant Brett Till, who was killed in Afghanistan. Brett is survived by his wife Bree, a local school teacher, his two children Jacob and Taleah and their new baby brother Ziggy Phoenix, who was born in October.

Brett's sacrifice is a reminder to all of us of the price paid by those who defend our country and our values in our name, in our armed services. We owe it to them to uphold these values and do all we can to support those they leave behind.

It was a privilege to trek Kokoda in memory of Brett with my mate Jason Clare to raise money for Legacy and bring together young leaders from our Bankstown and Shire communities. We made it, and were all better for it. Jason and I will be getting our next mateship trek together for 2011, where we will be joined by another colleague, Independent MP Rob Oakshott, when we trek the Sandakan death march.

In the parliament, we had wins on a number of campaigns including an extension of benefits for Brett Till's widow Bree, self funded retirees on the Commonwealth seniors health card, lifting the funding cap for IVF treatments and securing support for the Butterfly kids who will now get their dressings paid for by the Government.

We're still fighting for the F6 as part of a broad coalition of community, business and motoring groups from the Shire and Illawarra we established with the NRMA under Mike Tynan's leadership. We are continuing to raise resident concerns against unfair aircraft noise and our campaign to secure proper recognition of Cook's landing as the nation's modern birthplace, in time for the 250th anniversary in 2020, will move up another gear in 2010.

The Cook Community Classic was a great success raising $85,000 for local charities and community groups, a 400% increase on our inaugural effort in 2008. The Cook Community Awards once again recognised those who do so much to make the Shire such a great place to live. Special mention to Rod Coy, our 2009 Cook Community Medal recipient.

It has been great to serve on the Coalition front bench, first in housing and local government, then also in infrastructure and now in Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

In housing we highlighted the chronic shortage of supply in the private housing market that is driving up rents and prices, making housing unfordable for many Australians, gaining the support of the RBA Governor Glenn Stevens along the way. Our response was to call on the federal Government to force largely Labor state Governments to free up their constraints on land supply and housing development, by tying federal housing and local government funding to reforms in these areas. On this occasion we even got Kevin Rudd to agree but, as usual, he still hasn't done anything.

I also took a strong position on the need for the Government to get their waste and mismanagement of their record spending and debt under control that is putting upward pressure on interest rates. We have now had an unprecedented trifecta of monthly rate rises before Christmas.

Under Labor's polices we also now have the lowest level of bank competition for new mortgages on record. This reduces the pressure on the banks to keep interest rates as low as possible.

With Tony Abbott I had the opportunity to see first hand the failures of the Rudd Government's indigenous housing programme in central Australia, as we toured remote outstations and the town camps of Alice Springs. Also on display was the effect of the Rudd Government's undermining of the Northern Territory intervention.

During our tour we visited the remote outstation school where young Shirley Ngalkin was once a student. Shirley tragically moved to Hermannsburg where she was raped and killed. The subsequent court case became the tipping point for the Northern Territory intervention. A photo of the plaque at the school, in memory of Shirley, now sits in my office as a daily reminder of our collective failures, non-indigenous and indigenous alike, to provide a better future for indigenous Australians, and the need to get it right.

On immigration, the most pressing challenge is Labor's failure to secure our borders. They have walked away from the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition. Another boat arrival is just another day at the office for Minister Evans and Kevin Rudd. Their indifference to these issues is in stark contrast to the urgency and resolve displayed by the Coalition when we were in Government.

The failure of the Rudd Government on border protection means the only way Australians can now send a real message to people smugglers is to elect a Coalition Government.

Our longer term is the challenge is national leadership on a sustainable population policy for Australia. Growth is good, especially for our economy. However, we need to ensure we have an immigration programme and supporting polices in infrastructure development and services, that will maintain and improve our quality of life, and not the reverse.

Our focus must be on skilled migration that builds our capacity as a nation. When in Government, the Coalition more than doubled the skilled migration component of our annual immigration intake to 70%, and dramatically reduced the rate of unemployment amongst new arrivals from around 20% to just 5%. Under Labor, we are now heading in the opposite direction, with cuts to skilled migration and an increase in the family reunion programme.

My thanks to Malcolm and Tony for the opportunity to serve in these areas and for their leadership, often under very difficult circumstances. But thanks most of all to everyone in Cook for giving me the opportunity to serve our community in our federal parliament.

Next year will be big as we go to the polls once again.

In 2010 the Coalition will fight to stop Kevin's Great Big Tax and continue to hold Labor to account for their failure to protect our borders and manage our finances.

We will show Kevin Rudd and Labor up for the counterfeit Government they are and offer Australia real leadership, both here in Cook and across the country.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from my family to yours.

Cheers, Scott

Media Release : Transcript - Press conference (border protection)

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Subject: border protection.

SCOTT MORRISON: The arrival of the 64th boat on the weekend illegally in Australia’s waters has now put the population of Christmas Island over its capacity. Christmas Island was originally built to house 800 detainees when the Coalition Government first put plans in place to establish Christmas Island as a full blown detention centre. Now the fact that it is now full means that the government has a very difficult decision to make and that is are they going to follow the Coalition’s policy line of many years which ensured that we had offshore processing that preserved the integrity of our immigration system or are they going to bring people directly to the mainland from Christmas Island before their asylum claims are tested.

If the latter were to take place, if the government transfers people from Christmas Island directly to the mainland without having their claims tested, then it will be the biggest Christmas present for people smugglers since the election of the Rudd Government in 2007. The Rudd Government’s own policies have seen the number of boats to arrive rise again to incredible levels. We’ve had 55 boats this year. In the last six years of the Coalition Government we had 18 boats in just six years. So the escalation in the arrival of people coming to Australia and seeking asylum in Australia has grown significantly under the Rudd Government’s policies. Their indifference to the arrival of boats and the compromising of our borders has been highlighted by the way they handled the Oceanic Viking and we now see that the special deal done for those on the Oceanic Viking is now paying the dividends that the government promised it would. We’ve had special assessors flown in to process the claims, record timeframes for the processing of those claims and a series of diplomatic arm twisting from the government to ensure some of those asylum seekers were resettled in third countries other than Australia. But the majority will come to Australia as promised and that is significantly in excess of the 30% of asylum seekers whose claims have been tested in Indonesia who traditionally come to Australia as a result.

So the combination of how the government has changed the Coalition Government’s strong policies, of how they’ve reacted to individual circumstances such as the Oceanic Viking and now as they look to transfer those whose claims have not been tested to the Australian mainland will be the final nail in the coffin of the strong border protection regime that they inherited from the Coalition Government,

QUESTION: Do you think the deals that have been made with other countries, do you think that those details should be made public?

SCOTT MORRISON: They should absolutely release the special deals being done. One of the things that we feel so strongly about in the Coalition is we have a strong program for accepting refugees. Under the Howard Government, we accepted over 100,000 asylum seekers into Australia. We are proud of that record but the process has to be fair. People need to come through the front door, not the side window or the back door. Under the Coalition that is what happened, we reduced the boats to zero. Under the Rudd Government they have gone to 55 in just one year and we are still counting. Since they changed the policies that the Coalition Government put in, there have been 64 arrivals. Another boat arrival is just another day in the office for Minister Evans and Kevin Rudd.

QUESTION: And apparently some of the deals that have been made with countries such as the US are quite generous. Do you feel that we are in effect bribing other countries to take people coming to our shores?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well Kevin Rudd has bent over backwards to make good the special deal that he has given to those who were on the Oceanic Viking. Now their claims for asylum have been upheld and that needs to be respected but so too do the claims of all those whose claims have been upheld and to offer special deals to some and to remain indifferent to others is not good for the fairness of our process. Australia has a strong program for accepting refugees, we have strong and proud track record but one of the things that we hold high in that program is that it is a fair program. This government has thrown fairness out the window with their special deal for those on the Oceanic Viking.

QUESTION: Scott, what’s the problem here? You solve one problem but create another.

SCOTT MORRISON: Sorry what’s the question?

QUESTION: You solve one problem yet another one is created with asylum seekers. We solve the Viking problem now they’ve landed [inaudible]

SCOTT MORRISON: The problem with the Rudd Government is they are basically taking a ‘who cares’ policy to the arrival of boats in Australia. They have become so common place now with more than one a week this year that the arrival of another boat, all it gets is a shrug of the shoulders from Minister Evans and Kevin Rudd. When the Coalition was faced with this problem back in ’99 and 2000, we took strong action. That strong action reduced the boats to zero. The Rudd Government has to decide whether they are going to uphold the offshore processing system which was the centerpiece of the Coalition’s strong border protection or they are going to roll over again as they rolled over on the Oceanic Viking and they rolled over on many of the reforms that the Coalition put in place when they came to power. They are the ones who have changed the system, they have tried to fix something that wasn’t broken and we now have boats arriving more than one a week and the year is not over yet.

QUESTION: Scott is it going to get worse now with an influx before the cyclone season?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think this is the real risk as we approach the heated period of the cyclone season. We always need to remember that these are people in desperate situations and these are people that others will take advantage of – people smugglers will take advantage of. The Coalition’s policy is to ensure that there is the weakest possible product that can be offered to people smugglers imaginable. What we are seeing from the government is a Christmas present in what they relate to the transfer of detainees direct from Christmas Island to Australia. Under the Rudd Government we may now soon see people transiting through Christmas Island on the way to the mainland and that will send a terrible signal to people smugglers. The only way now I think we can really send a strong message to people smugglers is to elect a Coalition Government.

QUESITON: Scott what’s the solution? How do we get around it?

SCOTT MORRISON: The Coalition’s form in government I think speaks for itself. In government we showed that we were absolutely resolute in our commitment to offshore processing and we remain absolutely committed to that as a policy centerpiece. We’ve also highlighted bringing back changes to the visas that we put in place in government and the Rudd Government rolled over on. But our form speaks for itself. People smugglers know what the Coalition will do on people smuggling, the Australian people know what the Coalition will do on people smuggling. It seems that only Kevin Rudd is all at sea when it comes to his own policies.

Media Release : Labor indifferent as another boat arrival puts off shore processing at risk

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The illegal arrival of the 64^thboat since August 2008 has been treated as routine by the Rudd Government, highlighting their chronic indifference to their failed policies, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Under Labor, Christmas Island is now full, with 55 new arrivals following the latest illegal boat to arrive in Australian waters off Ashmore Reef,” Mr Morrison said.

“Now there will be more than 1,500 people detained on Christmas Island in a facility that was originally planned to accommodate just 800 people,” he said.

“With Christmas Island now a tent city and having reached capacity, the failure of Labor’s border protection policies is putting the cornerstone of our border protection regime, offshore processing, at risk.

“Offshore processing, including the excision of Christmas Island, was a critical factor in the Coalition’s plan to combat people smuggling and it worked, reducing boat arrivals to zero in 2002/03 and 2004/05.

“Under Labor only Christmas Island remains for offshore processing and it is full. The Coalition has real concerns that Labor will now start transferring detainees who have not had their asylum claims tested to the mainland, starting in Darwin.

“This will only encourage people smugglers in their terrible business and open up a legal can of worms for the status of people transferred to the mainland, with the courts likely to take an interest in the claims of any people whose application is refused.

“Labor are completely indifferent to the way they have compromised our borders through their failed policies and weak decisions, such as their special deal for the passengers on the Oceanic Viking, who are now en-route to Australia as promised by Mr Rudd.

“Each new illegal boat arrival is treated as just another day at the office for Minister Evans, whose only response is to buy more beds and tents rather than taking action as the Coalition did to stop the boats.

“Labor have compromised our borders and It clearly doesn’t seem to concern them and the people smugglers know it.

“The only way Australians can now send a message to people smugglers that they will understand is to elect an Abbott-led Coalition Government,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Transcript - 4BC Radio Morning Program

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Subject: border protection.

IAN MAURICE: Scott Morrison, good morning.

SCOTT MORRISON: Good morning Ian, how are you?

IAN MAURICE: Very well. It’s [Christmas Island] getting crowded up there.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well it’s full. It’s full and what they once described as a white elephant when the Coalition Government put Christmas Island in place is now a tent city. The people smugglers know it and the boats keep coming, 63 since August of 2008. It is out of control.

IAN MAURICE: How many people are on the island?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well we understand there are well over 1,000 now and another 51 will arrive very, very shortly as a result of the interception of last night. What it shows though is the government every time that these boats arrive they blame everything other than their own actions, whether it is the changes to policy they introduced which softened the position that we had when we were in government, or it is how they have dealt with things like the Oceanic Viking. We had 78 people onboard that ship, they are in Indonesia now, they have had a 1 month speedy processing under that special deal and we will now find out whether indeed, will come to Australia. We typically over the last few years have only really resettled only about 30 percent of people who have had their claims tested in Indonesia so if the Prime Minister wants to stand by the fact that it is not a special deal then I would assume that those proportions would hold. But I don’t think that’s what will happen.

IAN MAURICE: If there are 1,000 people on Christmas Island and as you described it is a tent city then that can’t go on forever.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, no it can’t. That’s why it is so important that the government stops the boats coming. That’s the first thing we have to do, we have to stop the boats coming. I can’t see that happening so along as the government refuses to acknowledge their own culpability in how these boats are arriving. They are the ones who have fiddled with the thermostat thinking no one would notice but the people smugglers have noticed and their trade is roaring. It is roaring well out of proportion to what is happening in other places and as a result they have to stop being in denial about it, stop trying to spin the boats away and stop the boats from coming through with some tough decisions and some decisive action.

IAN MAURICE: What sort of tough decisions would you make if you were in government?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the first thing that would happen if the Coalition was in government is that that of itself would send a very strong message to people smugglers. The people smugglers know our resolve on this issue and the Australian people know it as well. We got the boats to zero through a series of measures. We’ve talked about reintroducing what was a Temporary Protection Visa and now in a new guise called s Safe Haven Visa and we will announce more details between now and next election. The key thing is you’ve got to know you have a problem before you can start solving it. This government doesn’t think they even have a problem. We raise this with them as every boat arrives on every other day and they still seem to think it is everybody but them.

IAN MAURICE: But the point is, if there are 1,000 there now and presuming more boats arrive, something has to happen on Christmas Island for a start.

SCOTT MORRISON: It does and there are some upgrade plans in place which will run out over the next sort of 6 months but it is going to be a fairly unpleasant summer on Christmas Island as the boats are arriving…

IAN MAURICE: Horrible.

SCOTT MORRISON: It’s a fairly extreme location and the weather will be pretty hot over that period but the reason it is full is not because it wasn’t built to a reasonable capacity, the reason it is full is because the Rudd Government’s border protection policies have failed and they won’t acknowledge it.

IAN MAURICE: It must be a real headache for the government.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think it is but it seems to be that they are the only ones not getting the message. I would have thought that when Christmas Island hit capacity and they were literally having to put people in tents -which they like to describe as marquees, but a marquee is something you have at a wedding - they are in tents and they are in tents because these policies haven’t worked. I would have thought that would have been enough of a wake-up call. Clearly it’s not.

IAN MAURICE: Given that there would be some legitimate refugees amongst the 1,000 odd on Christmas Island, how do you process people faster to sort out the legit from the illegit?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well the processes are set down by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner and those processes have been on place for a long time and people’s identity and health and various security things are checked and then their claims about the risk that they are presented with back in their home country is also assessed and there is a process and that’s fair enough. My concern is this – there are around 10 million or so people in refugee or refugee-like situations around the world and I think we have got to be fair to everyone. This is about fairness. They are in as much need as those, if not more, than those who have been able to pay to get themselves to Indonesia or the people smugglers who have been able to bring them and put them at our doorstep on Christmas Island. I don’t think it’s fair to those sitting on the Thai/Burma border or the Sudan that their place is taken up by someone who has decide to take matters into their own hands. I understand their desperation, I sympathize with it. If I was in their situation as a father I would probably do everything I could to support my family.

IAN MAURICE: Of course.

SCOTT MORRISON: But we have got to protect the fairness of our system and the Rudd Government isn’t doing it.

Media Release : Labor rolls out the Rudd carpet

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The arrival of the 63rd boat carrying 51 passengers coincides with reports that all 78 asylum seekers currently in Indonesia who were taken onboard the Australian ship, Oceanic Viking, have been granted refugee status by the UNHCR, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

Mr Morrison said the spotlight will now be on where the 78 people are resettled, given the Prime Minister’s repeated denials that any special deal was done to get them off the Oceanic Viking.

He said past experience has shown that only 30% of people in Indonesia granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) have ended up settling in Australia in recent years.

“The Australian people have learnt through experience to watch Mr Rudd’s actions and outcomes, not his words,” Mr Morrison said.

“His assurance that no special deal was done with the 78 asylum seekers will now be tested against the process of their resettlement,” he said.

“Having had their claims settled in just a month, with special assessors flown in, we will soon learn whether Labor’s Rudd carpet will extend all the way from Indonesia to Australia.

“Australia does its fair share of resettlement, as we should. People who have had their asylum claims tested deserve support. However, this is true for all those in these desperate situations, especially those who are unable to pay to get themselves to Indonesia and are stranded in camps around the world.

“We cannot allow the fairness and integrity of our immigration and refugee programmes to be compromised as the Rudd Government has done by offering special deals.

“People smugglers have seen the changes in policy and the Government’s willingness to do special deals and compromise the integrity of our system. As a result they are now deciding who comes to this country.

“People smugglers know Labor’s actions have weakened our borders and are out to take full advantage of it.

“Every arrival signals another failure of the Rudd Government’s policies, actions and most of all denial. As long as they refuse to admit their failings and fix the problem they have created, our borders will remain compromised by Labor’s weakness,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Labor in denial as another boat arrives

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison, said today the Rudd Labor Government is in a complete state of denial about their failed border protection regime, as yet another boat has illegally arrived off Ashmore Islands, carrying 51 passengers who will now join the crowds on Christmas Island.

“This is the 63rd boat that has arrived since Labor started dismantling the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition Government and is the sixth arrival in just twelve days,” Mr Morrison said.

“Despite boats arriving at will, Labor is failing to get the message about the signal they are sending to people smugglers,” he said.

“Labor continues to look the other way and blame everyone but themselves.

“Until Labor acknowledges they are the source of the problem through their abandonment of the Coalition Government’s strong border protection regime, then people smugglers will continue to take advantage of this situation, putting people’s lives at risk.

Mr Morrison said today’s news of another suspected illegal vessel took the number of boat arrivals to 63 since Mr Rudd and Immigration Minister Chris Evans softened border protection policy in August 2008, placing the lives of 2,795 people directly at risk.

“People smugglers have seen the opening in Australia and are going for it,” he said.

“Every arrival signals another failure of the Rudd Government’s policies, actions and most of all denial. As long as they refuse to admit their failings and fix the problem they have created, our borders will remain compromised by Labor’s weakness.

“Instead, Labor keep the welcome mat out and dusted off for people smugglers,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Asylum seeker transfers will embolden people smugglers

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison has today reasserted the Coalition’s warning to the Government to protect the last shred of integrity of the strong border protection regime they inherited from the Coalition and not transfer detainees from Christmas Island on mass to the mainland.

Yesterday the Government confirmed they were considering a mass transfer of detainees to Christmas Island as a result of the overcrowding caused by their failed border protection policies.

“The transfer of asylum seekers from an overcrowded tent-city on Christmas Island to mainland Australia will represent the final nail in the coffin of the Rudd Government’s failed border protection policies. Above all, it will send an unambiguous message to people smugglers trading in human misery that Australia is an even softer touch,” Mr Morrison said.

“Minister Evans can’t bluff his way out of the implications of transferring asylum seekers to the mainland. Moving hundreds of people to the mainland because Christmas Island is full is sending the wrong message to people smugglers and has the potential to open a legal can of worms,” he said.

“The Minister’s assurances about the impact of transferring detainees on their legal status are at best ambiguous and at worst would undermine the whole point of the Coalition Government’s offshore processing solution.

“We are not talking about a transfer of a few detainees to the mainland for health reasons or other temporary purposes as provided for by the Coalition under the Migration Act. We are talking about a permanent mass movement of detainees from Christmas Island to the mainland because it is full.

“What is not ambiguous is the message this decision will send to people smugglers, who would now be able to hold out the prospect of delivering their desperate clients all the way to the Australian mainland.

“The excision zone established by the Howard Government protected Australia from having our processes abused by those who sought to gain an unfair advantage over other legitimate asylum seekers, in equally and even more desperate situations around the world. The Minister cannot spin these problems away.

“The Australian Government should be doing everything they can to ensure people smugglers have the worst possible product to sell. The reality is that under the Rudd Government, whether it is their roll back of the Howard Government’s strong border protection regime, Kevin Rudd’s special deal on the Oceanic Viking, or now transferring detainees on mass to the mainland, it is the people smugglers who are determining who comes to our country and the circumstances in which they come.

“The transfer of detainees to the mainland for onshore processing would represent another major victory for the people smugglers who have already illegally sent 62 boats and more than 2,700 people to our waters since Labor took the decision to roll back Australia’s border protection regime.

“Australia runs a generous refugee programme. It is something we should all feel very proud of. It is imperative that it remains a fair system. Our system must seek to help those most in need, as opposed to those most able to take advantage. That’s what a fair go is all about.

“The Coalition in Government saw the arrivals come to a halt. Now the surge of arrivals is Labor’s doing, it’s Labor’s responsibility and it’s for Labor to fix,” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : Sky News AM Agenda Youtube video and transcript

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: Copenhagen, whaling, border protection.

ASHLEIGH GILLON: Tony Burke let’s start with you. How do you rate the chances of world leaders being able to come up with a deal in the next few days?

TONY BURKE: It all depends on the political will. What you said to David Speers is exactly right in that the impetus now is the arrival of the world leaders and it has always been the case and always been expected that the arrival of the world leaders was going to be the critical time for building that extra level of momentum. That’s why some time ago world leaders started announcing and signing up that they would come at this stage of the negotiations because some of the challenges we have seen over the last few days have been issues that have been burning for quite some time. So the big opportunity and chance for momentum is as the world leaders arrive. There’s no doubt that these are difficult negotiations, it’s also the case that all we need is the political will to be able to have a global response to climate change in order to get there.

AG: How much harder though is the government's job going to be, if there is no agreement reached on the international stage, to convince Australians at home that there is that need to act?

TB: Well we have always said that we wanted to be in the strongest bargaining position we could be at Copenhagen. We are now there putting all the resources we can to try to make sure we can get global action on climate change.

AG: Scott Morrison, if developing countries don’t sign up to legally binding targets, will the Opposition still be sticking with that support for a guaranteed 5 % cut in emissions or will that bi-partisan support disappear?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well what we are hoping for out of Copenhagen I suppose is a real deal not a show deal. We are also looking for an arrangement or a conclusion which just doesn’t perpetuate the same position that there was at Kyoto which was basically the developing world/non developing world arrangement. You want an arrangement that encompasses everybody. But the third thing I would say us this: the details of what is discussed over there has to be explained to the Australian people. We just can’t go over to a conference and sign up to a range of things without taking the Australian people with us. Whatever is discussed and whatever is agreed over there, and I wish it all the best, but the details of that need to be explained to the Australian people when Kevin Rudd returns in terms of justifying any further developments, any further actions. We already have the great big tax but these outcomes must be explained to Australians before we go forward.

AG: Tony Burke, before the Prime Minister left for Copenhagen yesterday he was making the point that even if Australia does sign up to more ambitious target, 15% or even perhaps 25% that the cost of the ETS here at home to families will remain the same because the levels of compensation will adjust but Mr Rudd was asked specifically about how much the ETS will cost families per year on average and he refused to put a dollar figure on it. Tony Abbott kept saying it was going to cost $1,100 per family, is that right?

TB: Well nothing would make Tony Abbott happier than for Copenhagen to fail. The comments he has been making in the last few days have been trying to set up his media line so that he can break out champagne bottles if Copenhagen does fail. Now the response that you raised there goes to a market system where you have a price on carbon and if the price on carbon is higher, then the cost to the polluter is higher and the compensation to families is higher so you still end up with a situation for lower and middle income families they are either fully compensated or more than fully compensated under any system.

AG: But what does that mean in dollar terms? If you are an average income family, what is the price tag on this?

TB: Well this is where you go to a market system, as opposed to the Opposition’s suggestion of where you have a magic pudding in one hand and a bucket of red tape in the other, if you have a market system then you have a market price on carbon. If that price is higher the compensation matches it and more than matches it for lower and middle income families. So the bottom line for those families is do they end up worse off? Answer no. It’s a critical question.

SM: You can’t give that assurance though Tony. I think Paul Keating’s line on this is probably the most true and the questions are there for the government in terms of what is this going to cost. The figures from the NSW Government is $1,100 per household for the average family and if you don’t understand it, don’t vote for it. That’s what Paul Keating said about the GST and if you do understand it you won’t vote for it. I think this is the task the government has, they need to explain what this is going to mean. It is all well and good to say there will be this compensation here or that compensation here but you can’t give these blanket guarantees that no one won’t be worse off, you know that won’t hold true in the long run or even in the short run.

TB: Well let’s not forget the system we are talking about is a market system where the polluters pay and that provides the compensation for families. The interventionist system that Tony Abbott has been talking about has no compensation for families, it tells farmers what they are going to grow, it tells polluters exactly what changes they have to make..

SM: It doesn’t require compensations.

TB: If you do the change to nuclear power, the reports I have seen in the papers have up to a 33% increase in everyone’s electricity bills.

SM: Well who’s talking about nuclear power? You guys are talking about nuclear power.

AG: I think the problem here is that we don’t actually know what the Coalition policy is. We are all really guessing at this stage.

SM: Well I think the contrast that Greg Hunt and Tony Abbott have set out over the last few weeks since Tony became leader is that we will be talking next year about direct action alternatives. The issue I have with the government is this and that is they believe the only action that can be taken is the one that they propose. There is only one answer to climate change and it is Kevin Rudd’s answer. I am interested to know whether he is going to call all the African countries when he gets to Copenhagen extremists and climate change skeptics because they have walked out of his talks.

AG: But to be fair Scott, Tony Abbott is coming out with another Coalition policy early next year. We have been through the green paper process, the white paper process, this has been on the table debated…

SM: Sure.

AG: …for years and we are going to number what – the Coalition’s policy.

SM: But that doesn’t equal the fact that the government solution is the only solution and the only way to deal with climate change is a great big tax. I think that is what we have seen in the Australian…

TB: Was that John Howard’s solution? Did John Howard propose an emissions trading scheme?

SM: Since 2007 Tony you’d know there has been I think a great shift in how the Australian people are looking at this, they know more about it, they have some really serious concerns about what you are proposing and they are asking you guys the questions about what the answers are. At the moment there’s no answer about what it is going to cost, how it is going to impact them. The old birthday cake question mate is sitting there firmly in the government’s lap and there’s no answer to it.

AG: Tony, if voters do actually take note of this line that the Opposition is pushing now - if you don’t understand it, don’t vote for it - then you guys are in big trouble because all the polls are showing that people don’t’ understand how this operates.

TB: First principle, first year of operation where we know what the carbon price would be, where that is locked in under the legislation that was put to the Parliament, we are talking about in the order of a 1.5% increase on prices fully compensated for. So in terms…

SM: Every family?

TB: In terms of those price impacts, lower and middle income families, and I know you are into situations providing compensation and welfare for the wealthiest people in Australia…

SM: $60,000 and below, $60,000 and below…

TB: For the wealthiest families in Australia…

SM: So anyone earning over $60,000 is a wealthy family now are they?

TB: I said lower and middle income families, is what I referred to and you’re wanting to completely remove means testing from a whole range of policies so…

SM: Well talk about your policy. $60,000 is where full compensation kicks in up until. Over $60,000, at best it’s partial or not at all under your scheme as I understand it, but correct me if I’m wrong.

TB: Yeah but when you say partial, you are talking about very substantial proportions as that tapers down.

SM: Yeah but your cost of living still goes up if you are over $60,000.

TB: Yeah but we are talking about a situation where under the alternative, under the alternative - and let’s not forget - this policy that you are talking about, when you campaigned to become a Member of Parliament, this was your policy. This was something that you campaigned in favour of. I don’t remember the leaflet claiming it was a great big tax on your part.

AG: Ok we are going around in circles now. I think you have both made your points on this one. Tony I do want to ask you specifically…

SM: I am happy to respond if Ashleigh let’s me respond. Happy to respond.

AG:I think we are going around in circles here, you’ve both made points on that. Tony I do want to ask you specifically though about your portfolio and how the Copenhagen talks are dealing with things like forestry. Yesterday the Greens accused the government of trying to manipulate the deal by pushing for farm and forestry carbon sequestration to be counted when you want to ignore, apparently, emissions from bushfires and clear fell logging. Is that right and why?

TB: Well first thing in terms of bushfires and drought, you do get an increase in emissions when there is a bushfire or drought. It is a really unusual way to approach public policy to claim the government can take control of that. So we want to make sure that your public policy levers are for things you can affect and to think that government policy is going to eliminate bushfires or drought is just not logical. You want to look at the issues that you can affect. Essentially we are talking about a problem in the atmosphere. It is like when you think about dirty water coming out of a tap and you are trying to stop the basin from overflowing. You want to slow down how much is coming out of the tap and you want to be able to get as much out through the sink as well. So that means you want to have actions that both discourage emissions, that’s the dirty water coming out the tap and you want to have your carbon sequestration, getting it out the sink. That is what we are talking about with farm land. That is what we are talking about when we talk about the mitigational sequestration opportunities.

AG: And Scott Morrison you were nodding your head in agreement there. This is something that we can get you both to agree on this morning.

SM: I think this is something that Tony and I do agree on. This nonsense that somehow you can be responsible for what happens with bushfires and catastrophic events and droughts of this nature is ludicrous so I think it is the right thing to do to ensure these matters are considered in the policy framework. But again it highlights what is this debate all about? What are the things you can control and what can’t you control and where can you have a positive influence on the outcomes to reduce emissions. The government has the view that it should be done with a great big tax and a tax and spend model, we are putting our view that a direct action model is more appropriate and that is the debate we will have over the next nine months and people will be able to make their judgments about the competing arguments. I think the argument has moved a lot in the last two years. I think people understand a lot more today than they did in 2007 and I think as responsible political parties we have to be very mindful of the concerns of Australians.

[ad break]

AG: So, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is on his way to Copenhagen but on the way there he is stopping off in Tokyo. The issue there of course that a lot of people are interested in is whaling. Why hasn’t the government taken legal action on this yet Tony Burke? The government sent a customs vessel to the Southern Ocean to collect evidence. You have got that now so what are you waiting for?

TB: It is exactly what Kevin said in an interview with Kieran Gilbert yesterday. Japan is a very close friend and if there is a way of resolving these issues on a bi-lateral basis, that is a better way to do it. So we are continuing to try to pursue that with Japan. We reserve the right to be able to take that form of legal action but we will continue to pursue the bi-lateral process.

AG: Has talking got you very far at this point? I mean the Howard Government tried that route as well and that didn’t get them anywhere for all that time. Are you going to put a deadline on this? You are coming into, I think, the third summer since you have been in government. When are you going to actually stop and do something?

TB: Well let’s not forget we have had a change of government in Japan for what, the first time in 50 years or something of that nature so…

AG: And have there been any signs that they’re more…

Tb: Well I think the opportunity to be talking properly with the new government is something that given the closeness of the relationship, it is an appropriate thing to do. Make no mistake, Australians do want to see an end to whaling, we don’t accept the arguments about it being scientific whaling and at least in recent times some comments from the new government have stopped assuring the façade of it being some sort of scientific process. But it is a new government and that is a conversation that we are now having with them.

AG: Scott Morrison it is hard for you though isn’t it because the Howard Government didn’t make a whole lot of progress on this in 11 years so…

SM: Well it is the government now, when in Opposition made a big deal if this and made a whole lot of criticisms of our government. But what we are seeing from the government is talking from both sides of its mouth. Back home they want to talk about how tough they are on whaling and the big promises they made – look it is a bit like their health reforms. Apparently they are going to take over the hospitals in June of this year. Now apparently that promise means some report they are going to table next year . Again we have the big promises on whaling, if it doesn’t happen we are going to take them to court- big tough talk and now we are where we are. I think this is the problem the government has…

AG: Well is it the Coalition’s policy to take it to court?

SM: It is the government that has made all the running on this . It is the government that made the big claims and promises and it is for them to justify their lack of action. I mean we…

AG: But if you are calling for the government to do something you should say where you stand on that as well.

SM: We are suggesting they should honour their promise.

TB: So you believe we should immediately take action in the court?

SM: You made the promise, you need to justify why you are not taking the promised…

TB: No, a minute ago you said we should. I’m just asking do you believe we should take legal action?

SM: No, no I didn’t say that. I said the government should keep its promises. If the government can’t keep its promises whether it is on health or any of these other measures then they have to be accountable for that. You guys talked it up. You said the approach we were following wasn’t working, you said you had this great new approach which you have walked away form. So that is your position, you can stick to it, you can explain it to the Australian people.

TB: We said we would do this, we said we would get the information together to be able to take legal action…

SM: You said you’d take them to court and it was all talk, it was all talk.

TB: We’ve been able to get that. That information is now there. We’ve now got a new government changed for the first time in 50 years in that country. Do you really think we would be better off going immediately to legal action before you talked to a new government?

SM: No what I reject to in this Tony, what I reject is you say to the Australian people that you are going to be tough, you are going to do this, you are going to say this, you're going to take people to court and you rub people up on that issue when you knew all the way along that here would be these some hurdles and same problems that the previous government faced. So you want to whip up some enthusiasm for the environment issue on whales but when it comes to the action well there’s really been no change has there.

TB: You’re not saying what you think should happen.

SM: There hasn’t been any change and you guys have talked up a different story.

AG: Ok there’s one final topic we want to get to and that is of course Scott your new portfolio, asylum seekers, the boats keeps coming. Tony we are up to 62 boats now since last August. Is there any move to send asylum seekers to Darwin. Is that imminent do you think? Is Christmas Island nearing that overflowing point?

TB: Well my understanding is that Christmas Island is not full and the capacity of being able to continue to send people there as I understand it is still possible. The thing that I remain stunned about is of all the policies within the asylum seekers area, the one that the Coalition has said they would change is the one visa class that actually saw an increase in people smuggling and why they would change that one above all is something which for the life of me I can’t understand.

AG: Well Scott Morrison is the man to answer that.

SM: As we have talked about on many occasions, it is the whole suite of measures that we had when we were in government that were effective. The government’s view of Christmas Island back in June…

AG: But was it really effective? Is there [inaudible]

SM: Well the boats went to zero. They went to zero. So our record speaks for itself, I don’t think the Coalition needs to prove its credentials on border protection.

TB: Then they started coming again.

SM: But the issue now is that Christmas Island is full based on current capacity and they are now in tents. The government when they were in Opposition said this would be a white elephant, it’s now a tent city and if you move…

TB: When I was the spokesman I supported Christmas Island.

SM: Your own people said it was a white elephant, it was described as white elephant.

TB: I don’t know how many years you are going back bit I was Shadow Immigration and I supported the construction.

SM: You weren’t the only one talking about immigration when you were in Opposition and the government [Opposition] at that time described it as a white elephant. My point is this though - if you move people from Christmas Island to the mainland - the Minister was yesterday trying to say that this was possible under the Migration Act. Now under the Migration Act you can only move people and not affect their status from Christmas Island to the mainland if it is for a temporary purpose. That is the specific words used in the Act. Now the Minister is putting out a lot of bluff and bluster on this issue saying oh no you can do it without changing their status but if you allow people to get from Christmas Island to the mainland then that is the final nail in the coffin for the border protection regime that they inherited from the Coalition.

TB: That’s legally wrong.

AG: Tony Burke…

SM: No, check the Act. Temporary purpose

AG: Final word, we only have about 30 seconds left on the program so I am going to let you to respond to that quickly and then we do need to go. Why is that wrong? What…

TB: Well sorry, wherever you arrive first determines your rights of legal appeal. So if you go first to Christmas Island, even if you are transferred from there to the mainland you can’t tie yourself up in the court system for ten years which was the old problem the excision was making sure it had fixed. I note though at no stage then did Scott defend their policy on wanting to reintroduce temporary protection visas…

SM: It is our policy to introduce the safe haven visa.

TB: Which were the one, which were the one area that saw an increase in the number of boats and that is the one they want to bring back.

Media Release : Rudd must rule out transferring detainees from Christmas Island to mainland

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today Kevin Rudd must rule out transferring detainees from Christmas Island to the Australian mainland if he is serious about preserving any last shred of the strong border protection regime he inherited from the Coalition Government.

“The Christmas Island detention centre is full to overflowing because of the failed border protection policies and decisions of the Rudd Government,” Mr Morrison said.

“In Opposition, Labor described the Christmas Island facility as a ‘white elephant’. Under Labor’s failed border protection polices, Christmas Island has become a tent city for illegal boat arrivals,” he said.

“62 boats and more than 2,700 people have illegally arrived since Labor took the decision to roll back Australia’s border protection regime.

“If the Government now provides passage to the mainland at say, Darwin, to process onshore the people who have illegally arrived in Australian waters before their asylum claims have been tested, this will be the final nail in the coffin for the strong border protection regime Kevin Rudd inherited from John Howard.

“It is not enough to simply undertake the health, security and identity checks before allowing people who have arrived illegally in Australia by boat onto the Australian mainland. Their asylum claims must be tested first. This is the only way to protect the integrity of our borders and the fairness of our refugee programme.

“The only reason Labor would seek to transfer detainees to Darwin is to relieve the pressure built up on Christmas Island caused by the failure of their own policies. Transferring people to onshore processing will take our system from bad to worse under Labor.

“The excision zone established by the Howard Government protected Australia from having our processes abused by those who sought to gain an unfair advantage over other legitimate asylum seekers, in equally and even more desperate situations around the world.

“The transfer of detainees to the mainland for onshore processing would represent another major victory for the people smugglers. Once again, under the Rudd Government it will be the people smugglers who are determining who comes to our country and the circumstances in which they come.

“Australia runs a generous refugee programme. It is something we should all feel very proud of. It is imperative that it remains a fair system. Our system must seek to help those most in need, as opposed to those most able to take advantage. That’s what a fair go is all about,” Mr Morrison said.

Media Release : Labor's tent city on Christmas Island as another boat arrives

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today the Rudd Government will preside over a tent city on Christmas Island as their failed policies have resulted in the 62nd boat arrival since they started fiddling with the thermostat on border protection.

“Kevin Rudd’s failures on border protection have now seen 62 boats arrive and 2740 desperate people putting their lives at risk since August 2008,” Mr Morrison said.

“For the second time, this latest boat, carrying 60 people, is reported to have arrived at Christmas Island without being intercepted,” he said.

“Now Christmas Island, once dubbed a ‘white-elephant’ by Labor, is crowded and over capacity and the government will build a tent city to house new arrivals.

"Asylum seekers will spend a long hot summer under tents on Christmas Island, with additional facilities not expected to be in place until March next year, at least.

“This should be a massive wake-up call for the Rudd Government to get serious about its failed border protection policies. Kevin Rudd must admit this is a mess of his own creation and take responsibility for his failed policies.

“Erecting tents and demountables is no solution. Kevin Rudd needs to stop the boats. In Government the Coalition reduced the boats to zero. It seems the only way Australia can now send a strong message to people smugglers is to elect an Abbott led Coalition Government.

“The Rudd Government's tent city solution is a blatant demonstration of Labor's failure on border protection, yet they still seem to have their head stuck in the sand.

“It poses a further risk that the Rudd Government will consider landing asylum seekers on the mainland once Christmas Island becomes too crowded.

“That will raise a whole new set of legal implications for Australia and for the status of people being thrust towards our waters by money-hungry people smugglers.”

Mr Morrison said there is now immense pressure on the Rudd Government to come clean and say what exactly it plans to do with further boat arrivals.

“More tents is simply not an answer. The first step is for Labor to accept there are ‘pull factors’ of their own making which are drawing continued people smuggling activity, destination Australia,” he said.

“This will continue to be the case while the Prime Minister remains in a state of denial over the outcomes of his own actions in tinkering with successful border protection measures set down by the Howard Government.

“Australians will judge Mr Rudd on what he does, not what he says. He cannot spin these boats or the people smugglers away,” Mr Morrison said.

Multimedia : ABC Lateline Youtube video and transcript

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Subjects: Coalition frontbench, border protection, unemployment, interest rates, Copenhagen conference, NSW politics

LEIGH SALES: To discuss Copenhagen, Barnaby Joyce's first days as Shadow Finance Minister and other political events of the week, I'm joined tonight in our Sydney studio by the Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib and the Opposition Spokesman on Immigration Scott Morrison.

Great to have you both with us.

MARK ARBIB, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT PARTICIPATION: Good to be here.

SCOTT MORRISON, OPPOSITION IMMIGRATION SPOKESMAN: Thanks.

LEIGH SALES: Nice to have both of you in person, actually, instead of on the satellite.

SCOTT MORRISON: Yes, it is.

MARK ARBIB: A change!

LEIGH SALES: Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott's already had to pull Barnaby Joyce back into line. Is he going to repeatedly damage the Opposition by shooting from the lip, as Labor puts it?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, what we have in our team, we're not a team of clones and drones, like those who sit on the other side. We're a team of real flesh and blood. Real people with real experience. And I think that's the sorta team Tony's brought together. Tony's set out the rules for the team today I think really, really clearly. We've got off to a good start I think from that meeting, and everybody's just very, very keen to take this fight up to Labor. This is now a very contestable process, a very contestable election and Tony's instructions to us today were to take that fight up.

LEIGH SALES: I wonder, though, by putting Barnaby Joyce in a position where he has to toe the line and adhere to party solidarity, if you're going to drain Barnaby Joyce of everything that's appealing about him, which is his ability to speak quite frankly and off the cuff?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I don't think Barnaby will be drained, no. I think Barnaby will be able to make those contributions within the team. And it was Barnaby who was very keen to be part of the team. I think it's very important for the Coalition, for us all to be there pulling together. Because that's what people want from us. They want a strong Opposition that's gonna stand up for them and their concerns and the things that they're worried about in terms of how this government's let them down. And so that's what Tony's brought together. Barnaby's a big part of that, and so it's great to have us all together and taking it up the fight.

LEIGH SALES: Mark Arbib, Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott both speak far more plainly than Kevin Rudd. Is it a concern for Labor that they may come across to voters as a bit more relatable?

MARK ARBIB: Well I think what today showed is that Barnaby Joyce came across as reckless, as dangerous. For him to raise the issue of foreign investment, for him to raise the issue of China, for him to raise the issue of the banks, I mean, this was extremely reckless of him and at a time when we are just emerging from a global recession, extremely dangerous. And I think it goes a long way to show the character of Tony Abbott. Tony Abbott came in here and he's saying, "I want a fight. This is all about the fight. We're just gonna obstruct, we're gonna oppose." So he's put in place people who are there just for fight. Now the truth is with leadership, if you wanna be Prime Minister, you have to do the hard work. You have to do the hard policy work, you have to do the hard yards. You gotta be sensible, you've gotta be calm and you've gotta be responsible. And he's shown by putting Barnaby Joyce in that position, in charge of the finances, that, really, he's not up to it on that basis. To put Eric Abetz, one of the most far right extreme members of the Liberal frontbench into Workplace Relations is another example. I mean, bring back WorkChoices. The name may be dead, but the policy is coming back. We know what Eric Abetz's position on it is. He thinks that penalty rates are extreme. So, we know exactly where the Liberal Party is going. They're moving to the right.

LEIGH SALES: So, do you disagree with Scott then when you're up against a frontbench like this of which you so clearly disapprove that the next election is going to be contestable?

MARK ARBIB: Well, all elections, every election is winnable and every election is losable, and that's something that I'm sure you agree with. We take no election for granted. We're working hard on behalf of the people of this country. Barnaby Joyce, one of the things, though, he said, and this has really stuck with me, it didn't get reported, is that he believes the stimulus should be stopped right now. That would threaten thousands of jobs in this country. I mean, there are businesses, small businesses, tradespeople who are relying on the stimulus for work. There's 8,000 school projects underway. If Barnaby Joyce gets his way, those projects will stop tomorrow. I was in Warringah ...

SCOTT MORRISON: That's a bit of an overstatement, I think, Mark. But, no, make your point.

MARK ARBIB: But, Scott, that's what Barnaby Joyce was saying: the stimulus should be stopped, and Tony Abbott was talking in similar terms last week. They are out of touch with mainstream Australia.

LEIGH SALES: Well, Scott, let me pick up on that point. Mark Arbib points out that Barnaby Joyce, Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz, as he puts it, are sort of extremists. Has the Coalition also left itself wide open to the criticism that it's a bit of back future with Bronwyn Bishop and Philip Ruddock and Kevin Andrews?

SCOTT MORRISON: No, well, I think there is a broad range of experience on the team. I mean, I'm pleased to be part of that team. Sophie Mirabella, Tony Smith, we've got young blokes like Stewart Robert who've been elevated, people with a big future in the party. And Tony's I think worked right across the board to bring these people up and I think that's a good thing. But what you're hearing from Mark and you're hearing from others is they like to demonise anyone that doesn't agree with them. You know, if it's Eric Abetz or it's Barnaby Joyce - and the point that Tony's making to us and we're trying to make is we're just not in it for a fight, we're fighting for people. We're fighting for people who are upset with what this government has done and the Government is actually demonising them as well. If they wanna demonise Barnaby and Eric and everyone else, in the same breath they're really demonising the people they're standing up for and they should take care to be careful about that.

LEIGH SALES: Alright. Now you've picked up the Immigration portfolio in the reshuffle. Christmas Island's now at capacity with 2,500 unauthorised boat arrivals to Australia in the past year. What does the Coalition think should be done to address that?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, honestly, if you don't think you've got a problem, then there's no solution. And the problem we have with the Government at the moment is they don't think they have a problem. They think this is all being foisted upon them by external forces and they've played no role in it. Now, only the Government can turn this around, particularly right now. There's not an election until some time next year. Only the Government can stop the boats coming.

LEIGH SALES: OK, but I asked you what you think the solution is.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well, the solution is for the Government first to acknowledge they have a problem. And we can't get the Government even to that point. What we have in Christmas Island today after the arrival of the most recent boats, 60 people turning up unintercepted at Christmas Island last night, I think it was, is it's now overflowing. People in tents.

LEIGH SALES: OK, Mark Arbib, do you consider that you've got a problem?

MARK ARBIB: Well, there is a problem, but it's a global problem and it's happening not just ...

SCOTT MORRISON: Ohhhh.

MARK ARBIB: Well, you can you do that, Scott, but ...

LEIGH SALES: Even if it is a global problem, though, at what point does the policy have to be perhaps adjusted to deal with global factors that are perhaps more difficult than you might've anticipated?

MARK ARBIB: Well, we're already doing that though. And that's what the work that Stephen Smith has been doing in Sri Lanka, working with the Sri Lankan Government to try to solve some of those problems on the ground now. We're working with the Indonesian authorities around the clock to try and stop illegal people smugglers, and we've seen some great results in the courts already. We are making progress there. But there is no easy solution to this. This is a complex issue. And if you look at the situation in Sri Lanka, they have gone through one of the most bloodiest civil wars in history. It has been awful, and there are people on the move and Australia is a place where people would love to come to. It is not an easy ...

SCOTT MORRISON: And you're making it more attractive, and that's the point, Mark. I mean, in August of 2008 you started the changes. You changed something that wasn't broken and you thought you needed to fix it, and the boats have come as a result. Now, you need to take responsibility for those decisions, and Australians expect you to do that.

LEIGH SALES: OK. Now we've had - there's been a lot going on this week and I wanna whip us throw a heap of things really quickly, so let's move on. Unemployment: Mark Arbib, this week we saw the third consecutive gain in jobs in Australia. How much longer can Labor argue that the stimulus doesn't need to be recalibrated given that it's based on Treasury forecasts that haven't been realised?

MARK ARBIB: Well, look, we welcome the drop in unemployment. But you gotta remember though there's still 650,000 Australians that are outta work and there are probably 100,000 of them, even more, that are under-employed - people who were looking for more work, more hours, but can't get it.

LEIGH SALES: But the results are coming in that are better than what you anticipated when you set up the stimulus package.

MARK ARBIB: Sure, but on the ground, when you go out to communities, and I've just got back from Cairns where unemployment is over 11 per cent; a month ago it was 14 per cent. We had a job expo up there. 400 jobs on offer. 5,000 came through the door. And I was talking to people who are distressed. Like we talk about unemployment, but we don't talk about the effect it has on people. They are distressed. And there's gonna be a lot of people, Leigh - it's not just there; in south-west Sydney at the moment, 47 per cent of teenagers are unemployed. We need to act and we need to keep stimulating the economy with these infrastructure projects, keep people employed.

LEIGH SALES: Scott Morrison, there is no doubt that Australia has weathered the global financial crisis better than almost any other country in the world, probably better than any other in the country in the world. Will the Coalition give Labor credit for its management of the situation?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think what the Government needs to do is acknowledge the broad range of forces that brought this into being. I mean, we went into ...

LEIGH SALES: So I'll take that as a no.

SCOTT MORRISON: We went into it better than anyone else. But to pick up something Mark said: the Government seems to think the only response to this is for them to spend money. That's the only way you can support jobs. Now that hasn't been the case in other countries. And you can have lower interest rates or keep the pressure off interest rates or you can keep spending money. Now the Reserve Bank Governor has said time and time again this year that what we thought was going to happen hasn't happened. Things have turned out differently. He's decided to recalibrate his position; the Government won't. And as long as the Government keeps spending money which I believe for electoral reasons and a whole range of other things then you're gonna keep the pressure on interest rates. And every interest rate rise will be as a result of the Government not removing the pressure and the pressure is building with their spending.

LEIGH SALES: Briefly, briefly.

MARK ARBIB: That is just rubbish, absolute rubbish. The Reserve Bank secretary has said interest rates are at emergency levels -e mergency levels - and will return back to neutral levels as the economy recovers.

SCOTT MORRISON: But you're putting pressure on them, Mark.

MARK ARBIB: There are thousands of people who do not have a job going into Christmas this year.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well higher interest rates won't help them.

MARK ARBIB: You can't pay your mortgage if you don't have a job, Scott.

SCOTT MORRISON: Well you can't pay your mortgage if your interest rates are too high.

MARK ARBIB: If you don't have a job, you can't pay the mortgage. And unemployment is gonna continue to be a huge issue in this country. At the same time as that, look at our debt and deficit levels, one of the lowest in the advanced economies.

LEIGH SALES: OK, let me reach into my grab bag of issues and pluck out Copenhagen. Mark Arbib, what hope do you hold out for a meaningful agreement in that forum given that we can't even reach agreement between political parties in our own country, when we've basically got the same national interest?

MARK ARBIB: Yeah, it is very hard. And I was listening to Penny Wong on the 7.30 Report last night, and she was saying how difficult it is. But we've gotta try and we've gotta keep trying and do everything we can.

LEIGH SALES: But failure is a prospect, do you think?

MARK ARBIB: Well, look, I'm not over there in Copenhagen. I'm not involved in the negotiations. But there is a lot at stake. And there is more at stake for Australia ...

SCOTT MORRISON: I think the only one who wasn't!

MARK ARBIB: I think that's being a bit ...

(Laughter).

LEIGH SALES: Still, there was a job over there ...

MARK ARBIB: There's only one media person.

LEIGH SALES: ... baggage management liaison person or something. Scott Morrison, did you catch the video that opened Copenhagen of the child who was having the nightmare of the catastrophic tsunami and earth cracks and all of the resut of is, and what did you think of that?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I as quite disturbed by it actually, and that sort of propaganda would be put out in forum such as this. I remember - it was a few weeks ago when Tony Abbott was on Lateline, and he said something very important, and that was he's not afraid of the future. And I don't want my kids to be afraid of the future either. I'm quite confident about the future and that we can work through these issues. But it doesn't necessarily require the solution the Government puts up. I mean, the Government has a view saying, "Well, this is the only solution, the only action." Now, we'll be talking about direct action next year and be talking about policies in that area. But anyone who doesn't agree with the Government is an extremist, they're an extremist and they need to stop insulting Australians.

LEIGH SALES: You're both from New South Wales electorates though. Let me ask you a little bit about NSW state politics. Both the Sydney newspapers, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph, have launched petitions to try to force an early election in NSW. Mark Arbib, should voters get a chance to go to the polls early in NSW?

MARK ARBIB: Well, in NSW there's a constitution and the Constitution says that elections happen every four years and that was voted at a referendum. So the NSW people determined that. So I don't think there's any prospect of an early election.

LEIGH SALES: There's no mechanism that could allow that?

MARK ARBIB: Well, I think a no confidence vote in the House could allow that to happen. But in NSW, we hear a lot and obviously the media focus on all the bad things that are happening and some of the bad things that are happening, but there are a lot of good things happening that you don't hear about. Look at the state curriculum. The HSC is the leading curriculum in the country. The NAPLAN figures, when you look at the literacy and numeracy figures for NSW, are up there with the best in the country. In terms of ...

LEIGH SALES: That may be the case, but even Kevin Rudd has said this week, backed up by the former NSW Premier Bob Carr on this program that your Labor colleagues in NSW need to get their act together. Do you agree?

MARK ARBIB: Yeah, well, there's no doubt about that; they do. And they've said that, they've taken that on board and they're doing that. And I think Kristina Keneally is someone who's extremely capable and intelligent and she deserves a fair go to get on with it, which is what she's doing. But again, I was trying to make the point: there is a lot of good things happening. In February-March next year, desalination comes on board, 95 per cent on-time rail running. There's some good things happening.

SCOTT MORRISON: My electorate’s thrilled about that. Absolutely thrilled about that desalination plant.

MARK ARBIB: It's gonna secure the water supply.

LEIGH SALES: Is it a good enough strategy for the Coalition in NSW though to simply just play small target?

SCOTT MORRISON: Well I think what we've seen from Barry and the team increasingly over the last sorta six months is starting to unroll a lot more of their thoughts on things, but at the end of the day, governments are defeated because they've lost the confidence of the people. And I think that's what we have in NSW at the moment. I mean, people despair about this. I mean, the last election, they were heading in the right direction, but there's still more to be done. Well frankly, there's even more to be done and I don't know if even Mark could even say they're still heading in the right direction. So, you know, enough's enough. Put them out of their misery. Get them to cross the floor, mate, and put an end to it, please.

MARK ARBIB: But the Liberals have to offer some solutions. They've gotta offer a policy. The Liberal Party in NSW, these are the same people who tried to stop him being pre-selected, the extremists ...

SCOTT MORRISON: Oh, Mark, you're really reaching now! You are reaching now! Hang on, you were calling me an extremist a few minutes ago!

MARK ARBIB: Trying to stop you joining a branch!

LEIGH SALES: Now, speaking of which, you both came into the Parliament in the last election and it's been a pretty eventful couple of years. I wanted to ask, you know, being fairly new members of Parliament, what about being a politician has surprised you? Has there been anything about coming into politics that has been a bit unexpected? Mark Arbib?

MARK ARBIB: A bit unexpected? For me, I mean, especially being in the ministry and having a portfolio like Employment Participation, the effect I can have on people's lives is just amazing. I was in Yarraba, which is a Indigenous community in Cairns and to be able to see young people actually learning a trade, young Indigenous kids learning a trade and looking for work, I mean I just found that astounding. We're gonna be able to assist them.

LEIGH SALES: That must also be a bit of a burden though as well. That's a lotta responsibility.

MARK ARBIB: Well, it is, but when you decide to run for Parliament, when you seek higher office, then you take that responsibility on. And that's why you get into politics in the end. If you're in the Labor Party and I'm sure in the Liberal Party you're doing it because you wanna improve people's lives.

LEIGH SALES: And what about you, Scott Morrison, your first couple of years?

SCOTT MORRISON: One of the most pleasing things is that you are very overwhelmed by the sense of opportunity you have, particularly as a local member. I mean, Mark's in the Senate; I'm a local member. And that is something that I've really, really enjoyed. The opportunity to be involved in large national issues as well as the very small issues that come across your desk. But it has an a tumultuous period for new members of Parliament. I was talking to Roger Price the other day, the Government Whip, and he said you 2007 boys have seen quite a bit. I think that's true. But, ...

MARK ARBIB: Especially on the Liberal Party side.

LEIGH SALES: I was gonna say, particularly in your party room.

SCOTT MORRISON: But, you know, we are living in interesting times and there are a lot of big challenges out there. And it sounds cliched, but - and I'm sure Mark would agree - it is a genuine privilege to be part of the Parliament.

MARK ARBIB: It is. It is.

LEIGH SALES: Well, gentlemen, you're often regular guests for our Friday night forum. Thank you very much this year for coming in and giving your time to us and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

SCOTT MORRISON: Thanks, Leigh.

MARK ARBIB: Thanks, Leigh. Thanks.

[END]

Media Release : Transcript - ABC Radio AM program - border protection

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Subject: border protection

TONY EASTLEY: If you're new in the job and need some advice who better to call than someone who did the same job for years.

The Federal Opposition's new immigration spokesman Scott Morrison invited fellow Liberal and Australia's longest serving immigration minister, Phillip Ruddock to his Christmas party in Cronulla last night.

The southern beaches suburb in Sydney was the scene of race riots in 2005. AM's Bronwyn Herbert also went along to the surf side gathering of the Liberal Party faithful.

SCOTT MORRISON: I actually think Phillip was the first person to ring and contact me and congratulate me, and I can't tell you how much that meant to me Philip. For someone who was our longest serving...

PHILIP RUDDOCK: You didn't know what I had in mind.

(Laughter)

SCOTT MORRISON: He didn't say be careful what you wished for.

BRONWYN HERBERT: It's been a fast rise through the ranks for the 41-year-old Member for Cook who's been in the job just two years. Scott Morrison's front bench promotion is a product of the Coalition's new leadership under Tony Abbott.

He says he considers Philip Ruddock a mentor and won't be making changes to the Coalition's controversial policy at times on border protection.

SCOTT MORRISON: The Australian people have great faith in our ability to manage and protect our borders, to protect the integrity of our immigration system and to run an immigration system that is good for the long-term interests for Australia. It's totally in sync with the wishes of the Australian people.

BRONWYN HERBERT: So with the change of leadership from Mr Turnbull to Mr Abbott, there's not a change in policy in this regard, only on climate change?

SCOTT MORRISON: We haven't skipped a beat on the issue of immigration policy, we haven't skipped a beat on the issue of being strong on border protection, and we haven't skipped a beat on the issue of ensuring integrity in our immigration system as a whole.

BRONWYN HERBERT: Philip Ruddock addressed why the Coalition must maintain its stance on border protection.

PHILIP RUDDOCK: It means you have to have an immigration program that brings people through the front door, and not through the window.

BRONWYN HERBERT: Branch members and business people turned out in force to hear from their local member and his mentor. Cronulla was the location of the race riots four years ago and the crowd there were keen to share their opinions on immigration policy.

VOX POP: It's not just boat people, it's people arriving by aeroplane, it's all the family reunions that get everything out of whack, the point is Australia wants to be protected but we're just opening up our country to a great deal of conflict.

VOX POP I: I think immigration is a vital issue, being a migrant myself and I can see the benefits of immigration to this country.

VOX POP 2: I work for Italians, I work with Lebanese, so it's not as if we've got any racial prejudices. What I would like to see is if people come to this country that in some way as they are able actually contribute to the country.

TONY EASTLEY: Residents of the federal electorate of Cook in Sydney's south speaking there with Bronwyn Herbert.