A Coalition will turn the boats around

The best way to stop illegal boat arrivals is to change the government because it’s clear that Prime Minister Rudd has no intention of honouring his pre-election commitments to be tough on border protection and to turn boats around.

Under the Howard Government, from 2002, boat arrivals averaged three a year. Since Mr Rudd announced his more “compassionate” policy, they’ve averaged more three a week. Mr Howard found a problem and created a solution. Mr Rudd found a solution and created a problem because he lacked the judgment to leave well enough alone.

In opposition, Julia Gillard issued (rare) press releases headed “another boat, another policy failure”. With 128 boats and almost 6000 illegal arrivals since August 2008, she’s somehow changed her tune.

Yesterday, the Coalition announced its border protection policy. It aims to deny people smugglers a product to sell – namely permanent residency in Australia. Only by denying people smugglers a product can we cripple their business and stop the flow of illegal arrivals. Any policy that continues to provide an incentive to this business is neither tough nor compassionate.

A Coalition government will reintroduce off shore processing of illegal boat arrivals in another country. As long as the Christmas Island centre exceeds its comfortable capacity, this new facility or facilities will be the destination for anyone seeking to enter Australia illegally by boat.

In government, we will commence discussions to establish an off shore processing detention facility in another country. We will not prejudice discussions by canvassing potential locations from Opposition. These are matters that can only be canvassed government to government.

The Coalition will also reintroduce temporary protection visas and require those on these visas who receive benefits to make a contribution through a ‘work for benefits’ scheme, as is required of Australian citizens.

We will turn back boats where circumstances allow.

These policies have worked before to ensure that it is the Australian Government that decides who comes to our country and the circumstances under which they come – not people smugglers or those who have the means to pay them. They have worked before and they can work again. By contrast, the Rudd Government’s loss of control of our borders has led to a $1 billion blow out in immigration detention costs around Australia.