Scott Morrison’s Christmas Island visit a ‘$2000 per minute photo op’

Bill Shorten has derided Scott Morrison’s visit to the recently reopened Christmas Island detention centre.

Scott Morrison at Flying Fish Cove wharf on Christmas Island. Picture: Adam Taylor

Scott Morrison’s trip to Christmas Island was a “photo opportunity” at “$2000 per minute”, Bill Shorten says.

The Prime Minister used a trip to the recently reopened island detention centre to warn Labor’s medivac law which will see 57 refugees — including alleged murderers and paedophiles — sent to Christmas Island.

Mr Shorten continued today to fight accusations Labor will dismantle offshore processing and said he was focused on workers, rather than “photo opportunities.”

“The government’s making it up on the run. Labor will have strong borders and keep regional processing,” he said in Melbourne.

“The Prime Minister flies to the furthest part of what is technically Australia to run a scare campaign. You know that photo opportunity which the Prime Minister took Australia on yesterday cost $2000 a minute?

“I’m focused on the workers, I’m focused on small business and sub-contractors, I’m focused on tackling cost of living and getting things moving. This Prime Minister is focused on photo opportunities at $2000 per minute.”

The medivac bill, which was supported by Labor, the Greens and most of the crossbench, has left the government unable to block the transfer of refugees and ­asylum-seekers who are considered to be dangerous but are not ­subject to an adverse ASIO ­assessment and have not been sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment.

Mr Morrison warned yesterday that refugee advocates have turned to well-worn tactics — including coaching, and the distribution of scripts — as part of a wider campaign to “game the system” and expedite the transfer of asylum-seekers on Manus Island and Nauru to Australia.