Senator SINGH (Tasmania) (15:18): We talk about immigration policy and straightaway we go to the politicising of the very nature of that policy. What the questions asked today and this motion by the opposition to take note have demonstrated are the very politicising of the incredibly complex issue that is immigration. We know very well that this is not a straightforward issue. That is why we had experts in the field—experts from the military and from civil society—come together to provide expert policy advice for us, to look at the way we could improve immigration policy issues in this country. As members of the expert panel have said, the results will begin to show when the full suite of measures is implemented. But the relentless negativity of the opposition has prevented us from doing that. They do not want a solution on this issue because they want to continue to be able to politicise and create negativity and divisiveness within the Australian community. It is very timely that we should be talking about this, because this is Refugee Week. It is a week in which we reflect on the contribution that refugees have made to our nation. It is a week in which we reflect on the contribution by made refugees who have settled here; who have come from war-torn countries, from places of conflict, to settle and live a life of comfort, stability and freedom and to rebuild their lives. It is a week in which we reflect upon the heritage that they have, upon the families perhaps that they have left behind in order to settle, rebuild and create a new life here. We welcome them to do so. We welcome them because we are a supportive, compassionate nation. We are a nation that is a signatory to the refugee convention, which entails us to take in a number of refugees a year—as do other developed countries around the world, such as the US, the European Union and the like—to ensure that we can do our bit for the displaced people around the world. It is a compassionate policy. We in the Labor Party stand by it because we are a party based on the values of compassion, equality and doing what is right for people. However, those on the other side want to do the opposite. They want to demonise and politicise when it comes to issues regarding those who are seeking asylum in this country. We have just heard all of it from Senator Cormann, who was talking about illegals. I do not know how many times he uses the word 'illegals'—he loves that word 'illegals'; it is a positive word, isn't it? Honourable senators interjecting— Senator SINGH: Let us talk about illegal immigrants all the time! It is a divisive word, Senator Cormann. You are deliberately politicising this issue by using that sort of language because you want to divide the nation. The nation needs to wake up and recognise— Honourable senators interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Singh, please do not place your comments across the chamber; direct them to the chair. Senators on my left: please do not interject. Senator SINGH: My apologies, Mr Deputy President. It is the divisive language being used by the opposition that leads this issue to becoming a very politicised one. I found it disrespectful that, while I was trying to listen to Senator Wong's answer to Senator Cormann's question during question time, all I heard was heckling by Senator Cormann. I do not think he actually wanted to hear the answer from Senator Wong. Again, he just wanted to add fuel to the fire and politicise the issue. We know that, when it comes to this issue, the opposition do not have anything but slogans to offer—very simple words like 'stop the boats'. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator SINGH: Can you stop the boats? On the issue of stopping the boats, Julie Bishop has been contradicted by the Indonesian ambassador on her line of 'Yes, we're going to work with the Indonesia and turn back the boats.' That is absolutely untrue. There is no support from the Indonesian government for the opposition's policy to turn back boats. It is complete nonsense. I wonder how much longer we are going to hear these slogans of 'stopping the boats' and 'turning back the boats' when the opposition know very clearly that they are actually damaging our relationship with Indonesia. The opposition continually raise this issue like it is all done and dusted, when that is certainly far from the case. (Time expired)