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February 25, 2024
Shadow Home Affairs minister James Paterson has come out firing in response to Richard Marles after the Deputy Prime Minister denied claims funding had been cut for the Australian Border Force.
The federal government has come under fire in recent weeks following the arrival of two separate groups of asylum seekers on boats in Western Australia.
The Opposition has accused the government of cutting the budget of the ABF after boats carrying asylum seekers managed to evade border security to enter Australian shores.
Speaking to Sky News Australia’s Andrew Clennell on Sunday morning, Mr Marles denied budget cuts had been made to the ABF.
"Well, that criticism is just, frankly, a lie. I mean, it is actually not true,” Mr Marles said.
“We've increased funding to the support of our border. The government has increased expenditure, on our border. No ifs, no buts. It's a matter of record.
“The fact that the opposition is desperately trying to say otherwise says more about the way in which the opposition goes."
Mr Paterson joined Clennell shortly after on Sunday Agenda, describing the defence minister’s appearance as an “embarrassing performance”.
“I thought that was just an embarrassing performance from the Deputy Prime Ministerm," he said.
“He's obviously not familiar with the budget papers his own government has published – and unaware, as you pointed out to him, that between this year and next year, the government's own update to its budget, released this month, shows that spending on border protection (is) declining by $190 million."
Mr Paterson continued, arguing that Mr Marles’ strong denial of budget cuts showed he was “not across the detail”.
“The government says they will spend $190 million-less next financial year than they're spending this year on borders. Now, if that's not a cut, I don't know what a cut is. And if the Deputy Prime Minister is unaware of that, then it shows he is not across the brief,” he said.
“Because let's remember, this is as much a defence portfolio issue as it is a home affairs issue. The Operation Sovereign Borders is a joint mission between defence and home affairs, including Border Force, and he seems completely not across the detail.”
The minister also said the arrival of two boats undetected was a “shocking failure of our maritime surveillance operations”.
“You should not be able to get to the Australian mainland, drop people off and return without being detected. And unfortunately, people smugglers are testing this government's resolve,” he said.
“I think they're going to continue to until the Prime Minister shows some strength and restores Operation Sovereign Borders to its original design under the former government.”
