Senator Eric Abetz

"Today in the Senate, Senator Carr described Labor's own border protection policy, first initiated by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who promised to "turn the boats around", as "a reckless position", Senator Abetz said today. 

"The day before the 2007 election the then Labor leader, Mr Rudd, told the Australian people that if Labor won government he would turn back boats carrying asylum seekers to Australia. I ask the Minister: if it was right for Labor to turn back boats in 2007, is it still right to turn back boats in 2011? If not, why not?" 

 "Senator Carr was at a total loss on how to justify Labor's position," Senator Abetz said. 

"Senator Carr was chastised, on no less than four occasions by the President of the Senate, his own Labor colleague, for failing to answer the question." 

"Senator Carr campaigned on a policy of turning the boats around in 2007 and now the Minister representing the minister for Immigration in the Senate believes it was "reckless". "

"If, as Senator Carr believes, former Prime Minister Rudd's policy of turning the boats around was good policy in 2007 and "reckless" now, what is it that Labor really believes?" 

"Like everything Labor does it's a mess," Senator Abetz said.