Cash, Sen Michaelia

Senator CASH (Western Australia) (14:33): Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer to Prime Minister Gillard's promise to the Australian people that she had a plan to stop the people smugglers' despicable trade. Why then, Minister, have more than 38,000 people on 589 illegal boats arrived under the Prime Minister's watch, 2,044 of them in this month alone, despite the fact that we are only 20 days in? Isn't it the sad reality that this government is the best friend that a people smuggler will ever have?