Bill Shorten says Peter Dutton’s claim on Labor border policy is rubbish

Bill Shorten has delivered an extraordinary attack on Peter Dutton, as Labor’s border policy comes under intense scrutiny.

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton. Picture: AAP

Claims that Labor would abandon Operations Sovereign Borders are “complete rubbish” and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is encouraging people smugglers to test Australia’s borders, Bill Shorten says.

Mr Dutton said today he had “certainty” boats would start arriving if Labor won the next election, partly based on intelligence he has received from government agencies.

The Opposition Leader said Mr Dutton’s comments were “lies” and could push people smugglers to test the Border Force if Labor wins the next federal election later this year.

“Complete rubbish. The Home Affairs Minister is sounding more desperate every day,” he said.

“What they do when they say these lies is that they are actually encouraging people smugglers to try their hand against the Australian system.

“We do support strong borders. We will do everything we can to stop the people smugglers getting back into business.”

The Australian revealed the Royal Malaysia Police, assisted by the Australian Federal Police, prevented 34 people from departing Port Klang on Malaysia’s west coast on January 4.

Mr Shorten has previously said he will continue offshore processing and boat turnbacks, despite supporting a crossbench motion to bring sick adults from Nauru to Australia for medical attention.

The Australian revealed the Royal Malaysia Police, assisted by the Australian Federal Police, prevented 34 people from departing Port Klang on Malaysia’s west coast on January 4.

In response to the operation, Mr Dutton said he had “certainty” boats would start under Labor, partly due to intelligence from 16 intelligence and law enforcement agencies who work on Operation Sovereign Borders.

Bill Shorten says claims made by Peter Dutton over Labor’s border policy are rubbish. Picture: AAP

“It’s a certainty that if Labor elected at the next election, boats will start,” he told Sky News.

“We have 16 agencies under Operation Sovereign Borders, our intelligence and law enforcement agencies … we have a fairly complete picture on what people are thinking.

“The people smugglers have worked it out. They know that under the Coalition government, Operation Sovereign Borders means that the boats have stopped. Labor has mangled that policy, they have discarded that policy.

“And now that Labor has walked away from Operation Sovereign Borders for their own form of soft open borders, we know the boats would start under Labor.”

When asked what specific intelligence he received from those 16 agencies about Labor’s boats policy, Mr Dutton said he would not go into conversation with intelligence bodies.

Labor say they will continue offshore processing and boat turnbacks, despite supporting a crossbench motion to bring sick adults from Nauru to Australia for medical attention.

Opposition immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said today Labor would triple funding for overseas AFP officers investigating people smugglers.

“Labor has committed $8.5 million to establish an additional eight dedicated AFP officers throughout the region to support Australia’s neighbours and prevent people smuggling journeys,” he said.

“Under Labor, Operation Sovereign Borders will be fully resourced, we will maintain Australia’s strong border protection measures and strengthen them even further with these new measures to stop people smugglers in their tracks.

The Liberals want to play politics with vulnerable people’s lives — they prefer to lie about Labor’s strong policies on border protection and market the people smugglers’ product for them.