Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Sky News Credlin
5 December 2023
Topics: Immigration legislation
E&OE.
Credlin
Joining me now Senator Michaelia Cash, Shadow Attorney-General. Well Senator, I don’t think it could get any worse for the government. But we’ve had no Minister nor the Prime Minister front the public and give them confidence they have got this matter in hand, have we?
Senator Cash
Well Peta, this is a total abrogation of duty by the Prime Minister, by Minister Giles and Minister O’Neil. They should be fronting the Australian public and apologizing for the complete, total and utter disaster, which they have put Australians through now for the last four weeks. And instead, they’ve gone to ground. 147 hardcore criminals have now been released onto the streets of the Australian community by the Albanese government. Our worst fears Peta were realized yesterday, when we saw reported one of these people has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a woman. And then if it couldn’t get any worse, the detainee today in relation to trying to contact a minor. Where is the Prime Minister? This is a time to show leadership and he is failing in that regard.
Credlin
What was the response of Penny Wong and others in the Senate today? I mean, how on earth can they possibly defend the handling of this? Because it has been a calamity from the start.
Senator Cash
Peta, I have never seen a government so full of excuses. In fact, they’re so full of excuses that after Question Time today, the opposition moved to bring on the migration bill so that we could properly deal with the preventative detention regime. And Peta, the Labor Party were forced to agree with the motion that the Opposition put forward. So we have just passed, because of the Motion moved by the Coalition in the Senate, Labor’s preventative detention regime. Peter Dutton, he has been telling Labor to implement this since day one – they told us, it was not possible. It has now taken 4 weeks, 147 hardcore criminals, 2 that we now know, have been charged by police. And yet Labor still didn’t want to act. So the Coalition successfully moved today to bring this bill on. And I’m pleased to tell you that finally, Peter Dutton has actually got what he has been calling for. And that is for the Labor Party to introduce a preventative detention regime.
Credlin
So, just so I’m really clear – you’ve bought on the legislation. So it’s now been introduced, you’re saying it’s also passed the Senate? Is that right?
Senator Cash
Absolutely. No Peta, we insisted it be passed tonight. I have just left the Senate. And we have just passed the legislation. The legislation will now go to the House of Representatives on Thursday. But guess what, four weeks too late. You’ve got to be kidding me. But not only that, the mere fact of passing the legislation. Peta, it only sets up the scheme. What is the Minister going to do now? Has he undertaken an assessment in relation to the 147 hardcore criminals to work out whether or not he’ll even make an application? It’s over to the Labor Party now. And guess what? I don’t hold my breath. I asked the Minister in the Senate, Murray Watt – how many of the 147 detainees, hardcore criminals they have released onto the street will actually even make the first step of the test. And guess what the minister couldn’t tell me… You would have thought that you would have already done as a responsible government, an assessment of every single one of those now released to know whether or not the Minister can even consider making an application. But guess what, yet again, Peta – total incompetence by this government. How Mr. Albanese hasn’t sacked these two ministers, I think is now beyond Australian’s.
Credlin
I mean, they gotta go. They gotta go, don’t they? They gotta go.
Senator Cash
Peta, seriously. 147 hardcore criminals. The government refuses to answer any questions on them. I mean, now you’ve got you know – two have now been charged by the police for reoffending. And all the government says is – there’s nothing to see here. A total complete and utter abrogation of duty. The first duty of any Commonwealth Government, Peter Dutton knows this, is to keep Australia and Australians safe. And this government has totally abrogated its duty. And quite frankly, shame on them.
Credlin
Alright, well thank you for coming after getting that legislation through the parliament. Well done to you, Senator Cash.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
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