Scott Morrison responds to ‘pretty unusual’ video about boat arrivals

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has responded to a “pretty unusual” video during a press conference on the campaign trail.

Scott Morrison has responded to the release of a video warning Australia’s borders are closed to people smugglers.

The Prime Minister was probed about what prompted the video during a press conference in Tasmania on Friday.

Mr Morrison was also asked whether he agreed with Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who said people smuggling could restart because of conflicted campaign messages around boat arrivals.

“I do agree with Peter. I absolutely agree with Peter,” the Prime Minister told reporters.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been quizzed about a new video. Picture: Jason Edwards

Earlier, Mr Dutton described the timing of the new video warning people against coming to Australia by boat as “pretty unusual”.

The man in charge of Australia’s militant Operation Sovereign Borders has released a video to YouTube in multiple languages warning the nation’s borders remain closed to people smugglers.

Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Justin Jones, commander of Maritime Border Command and Operation Sovereign Borders, says in the clip that the only way to come to Australia is with a valid visa.

Australian Border Force has said the video was not produced at the request of the government.

Mr Dutton said on Friday the department would have made the video “off their own initiative”.

Peter Dutton has weighed in on Maritime and Border Command’s extraordinary new video. Picture Lachie Millard

“It’s pretty unusual, I’ve got to say. There’s not a precedent that I can recall for this,” he told Nine.

“They will be looking at the intelligence, there may be activity on the water at the moment and I suspect in part it’s because they are hearing these mixed and divided messages over the last few weeks.”

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles also appeared on Nine where he rebutted Mr Dutton’s claims.

“I don’t think this is unprecedented in the first instance in terms of this ad,” he said.

“Second, Border Force understand, the policy has not and will not change … They understand that Labor’s position is completely the same as the government’s, which is what we have all been saying.”

The Coalition has during the federal election campaign sought to revive the debate around boat arrivals as a key security issue, framing Labor as the weaker choice on borders.

Both major parties have been firm in saying anyone who arrives in Australia by boat will not be allowed to settle here.

Richard Marles, pictured with Corangamite MP Libby Coker, says Labor is united on border protection. Picture: Alison Wynd

Labor has for years supported two of the three pillars of the Coalition’s Operation Sovereign Borders – boat turnbacks and offshore processing.

Mr Dutton has been among the Morrison government MPs to seize on the fact that Labor doesn’t support the third pillar — temporary protection visas (TPVs).

Labor’s home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally has said the party doesn’t support TPVs on the grounds that they can leave refugees in limbo, given they were only been issued to people who arrived in Australia before Operation Sovereign Borders came into effect in 2013.

Asked about the video on Friday, Senator Keneally said she didn’t agree with Mr Dutton that it was unusual.

Mr Dutton earlier claimed people smugglers could be inspired to restart maritime journeys to Australia after looking at the contested election messaging around boat arrivals.

“They will be saying, ‘Look, there is going to be a change in government, a change in the border protection policy. Pay your money, you’ll get to Australia under a new government’,” Mr Dutton said.

“That is deeply concerning.”

Scott Morrison later on Friday said he absolutely agreed that people smuggling could restart because of conflicted messages around boat arrivals.

“Let’s be clear – Labor have a policy which says they will give permanent protection visas to people who have come to Australia illegally by boat,” the Prime Minister told reporters in Tasmania.

“That is their policy. And I do not believe that is a good policy to keep borders secure.”

Mr Morrison criticised Labor for its stance on TPVs, pointing to his experience as one of the architects of Operation Sovereign Borders when he was immigration minister.

“I developed the policy (on) how you make offshore processing work effectively, and the restoration of temporary protection visas, and the boats were stopped,” he said.

An ABF spokesman said its primary objective was to prevent lives being lost at sea.

“Operation Sovereign Borders is committed to stopping people smugglers profiting at the expense of vulnerable individuals,” the spokesman said.