Hawke Welcomes Legislation to Allow Offshore Processing as a First Step in Re-introducing Proven Policies that Work

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said the passage of legislation through the House of Representatives to allow offshore processing at Nauru was a welcome step in restoring policies that work on our borders.

“This is a welcome first step to strengthening Australia’s borders – but more action will be required if we are to stop the boats and end the needless deaths at sea, said Alex Hawke.

“I believe the only way we can be fully confident of stopping the boats is to return to the complete policies of the last Coalition government when it comes to border protection. 

“The fact is you can't get Howard government policy outcomes on border protection - a 99 per cent reduction in boat arrivals - if you don't implement the full Howard government policies.

“Offshore processing at Nauru is one part of the solution. The other parts of the solution are the reintroduction of temporary protection visas (TPVs) and turning back the boats where safe to do so.

“These policies work together and when combined, entirely destroy the people smuggler model. 

“Australians want confidence that the borders are secure, they want confidence that government policies are working and they want an end to the uncertainty that has accompanied the four years of failure on our borders.

“Labor cannot be trusted to implement policies on our borders that they do not believe in and have been dragged kicking and screaming to adopt. Only the Coalition has the proven record of standing for and successfully implementing polices that stop the boats.

Alex Hawke said residents of Mitchell would welcome the change in policy by the Gillard Government on its position on offshore processing at Nauru, but they would be right to ask, why it took the Gillard Government four years to admit it got it so wrong on border protection.

“Four years ago, the Rudd-Gillard government overturned proven policies that work.  Since then we have had 22,000 illegal arrivals, 1,000 deaths at sea, a battering of Australia’s international reputation and a $4.7 billion budget blowout.  This was all so avoidable.

Alex Hawke said the Coalition had a clear plan to strengthen Australia’s borders and endless needless deaths at sea.

“The Coalition supports proven policies that work – this means offshore processing, temporary protection visas and turning the boats around.  These policies work together to stop the boats and end the needless deaths at sea," Alex Hawke concluded.