Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says 'had Labor been elected in May, the boats would already have been back on the water, and that is a disaster'.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has warned the recent debate over the medevac legislation has shown "had Labor been elected in May, the boats would already have been back on the water". Mr Dutton told Sky News people smuggling operations have resumed in places like Sri Lanka, amid speculation Australia will resettle asylum seekers from Nauru in New Zealand.
The government is refusing to confirm reports it will take up 'the New Zealand offer', after securing Jacqui Lambie's vote to repeal the contentious medevac legislation. Mr Dutton said "the United States is the most realistic offer for us that we have looked at". "We will work through the cases and we will do it in a way that does not restart boats", he said, "we don't want to give ammunition to our enemies the people smugglers".
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