Cash, Sen Michaelia

Senator CASH (Western Australia) (14:49): I refer the minister to the statement by the former Prime Minister, Mr Rudd, on 23 November 2007, when he said: Labor would take asylum-seekers who had been rescued from leaky boats to Christmas Island, would turn back seaworthy vessels containing such people on the high seas … "You'd turn them back," he said of boats approaching Australia, emphasising that Labor believed in an "orderly immigration system" … Again I ask the minister: are you a hypocrite or are you not, by your answer both yesterday— The PRESIDENT: No, that has to be withdrawn. Senator CASH: Mr President, is the statement that the minister made to the Senate hypocritical?