Morrison rebukes reduced border spending

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Created on Friday, 08 February 2013 13:11

Written by Editorial staff

Shadow minister for immigration and citizenship Scott Morrison has rubbished claims that asylum seeker costs will decrease by $1 billion.

Budget figures predicted the reduction in time for the end of next year, but Mr Morrison said that with the recent arrival of two more boats, the billion dollar saving is as "mythical as Wayne Swan's surplus".

Mr Morrison described this fiscal update as monetary fantasy.

He explained: "Boats are continuing to arrive in record numbers under Labor's border failure and yet next financial year [2013-14] they are budgeting that the cost to taxpayers will plunge by almost $1 billion.

"Labor then wants the Australian people to believe that spending in 2014-15 will plummet by almost another $1 billion."

The shadow spokesperson added that it appears that the government is budgeting for the savings the Coalition will produce as a result of implementing the Howard-era policies that substantially reduced arrivals.

Mr Morrison accused the minister for immigration and citizenship, Brendan O'Connor, of attempting to mislead the electorate about how devastating the government's border policy has been on the federal budget.

Labor's failures have led to a $6 billion blowout in the budget, the minister explained, as the electorate continued to pay for the ineptitude of the government.

The Australian reports that since February 1, 185 people have travelled to Australia by boats without any documentation, immigration visa or passport.

That brings the total for 2013 so far up to 650 - there were 465 arrivals last month.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that since the laws were changed on August 13 to apply a 'no advantage' test and implement offshore processing - 10,145 asylum seekers have arrived.

It's being reported that onshore detainees would not have their claims processed for years while no processing has begun at all for asylum seekers on offshore centres.

The 'no advantage' test has been developed as a way of sending a message to asylum seekers that no matter what route they take, they won't be any better off than those who have lodged their application with the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The UNHCR has been critical of the current border arrangements, the ABC reported, as detainees are waiting in "legal limbo" - which puts financial pressures on the centres.