Shadow immigration minister addresses local forum on border issues

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Created on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:14

Written by Editorial staff

Shadow minister for immigration and citizenship Scott Morrison has addressed concerns over borders at a forum on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

The Express Advocate reports that about 150 locals attended the meeting at Tumbi Umbi, which was hosted by local liberal party candidates.

Speaking as a guest, Mr Morrison talked to concerned locals about how the current government has failed on border policy - and as a result, cost the taxpayer billions and cost hundreds of lives at sea.

He said: "We have seen again and again Labor only has a political strategy and no plan to stop the boats.

"The Coalition has a plan to strengthen our borders; we will abandon Labor's half-hearted approach to border security and reintroduce the full suite of Howard government policies. The last Coalition government stopped the boats with proven policies that work."

Appearing on the ABC, Mr Morrison said that the government's current measures aren't enough and that the current bridging visas which allow refugees to enter the community are not the same as the Howard-era temporary protection visas (TPVs).

The shadow minister explained that there is a difference between the two as TPVs allow the government an opportunity to reassess a visa holder's claim, offering room to send them home if their native country is a safe place.

Mr Morrison argued that's a big difference to a bridging immigration visa, which can lead to permanent residency.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the government must take potential permanent residency off the table.

Asked whether the asylum seeker debate has an undercurrent of racism, as attested to by independent MP Tony Windsor, Mr Morrison argued that it certainly does not.

The shadow minister said the discussion is about the fact that five years ago, there was just four people in detention as opposed to the 12,000 now.

He argued: "This is a difficult issue which the Coalition has had a consistent record on for more than a decade. Our policies are what we've believed in over a very long period of time.

"The reason we're talking about this issue five years after the election of a Labor government is because this Labor government abolished the policies that worked."

The border protocols of the Howard government were originally dismantled in 2008 under the then Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd.