I am honoured to be reappointed by the Leader of the Opposition the Hon Angus Taylor MP as Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and for my new role as Shadow Minister for Immigration, and thank him for his confidence at a critical time for our nation’s security.
Home Affairs goes directly to the safety of Australians. From border protection and maritime security to counter-terrorism, social cohesion and the integrity of our migration system, Australians expect strength, clarity and competent administration in this portfolio. The Albanese Labor Government has failed time and again on these expectations, putting our community safety at risk.
Social cohesion has also frayed to dangerous levels under this Government. Labor has failed to properly resource our national security agencies and ignored repeated calls from the community, including from the Opposition, to convene a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, only acting after sustained pressure from every corner of the country except Labor Ministers.
The Government must also urgently end its reckless policy of self-managed returns for the ISIS Brides cohort. Australians deserve absolute confidence that every available safeguard is being used to prevent individuals who present a security risk from entering Australia. We are dangerously close to more of this cohort coming to Australia, and the Albanese Government must heed our calls to prevent terrorist sympathisers from reaching our shores.
Under the Albanese Labor Government, the mismanagement of our borders has left them weaker than they have been in decades. Illegal fishing is now running rife, with crews repeatedly breaching our northern waters and disrupting coastal communities on an almost daily basis.
At the same time, Labor’s mishandling of the NZYQ cohort saw very high-risk individuals released into the community, exposing serious failures in migration and detention policy and leaving Australians vulnerable to some of the worst offenders in the country, with tragic consequences.
As Shadow Minister, I will continue to hold the Government to account and advocate for strong borders, safer communities and policies that put the national interest first.
And as a Liberal Senator for Tasmania, I will continue fighting to ensure our state gets its fair share after being treated as an afterthought by the Albanese Government, standing up for the investment, services and support Tasmanian communities deserve.