Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027
Mr JOYCE (New England) (19:29): I have great respect for the member for Bruce, and I want it known that I genuinely think that the member for Bruce has his heart in the right place on this. What I do believe is that we have to understand the political dynamic that is currently before us. Australia is moving to parties such as One Nation because of this being a crucial issue.
If you don't recognise that, then you don't recognise exactly what's going. In 2021-22 170,900 people, net, came into Australia. In 2022-23 538,000—1½ times the population of Canberra—came into Australia.
In 2023-24 about 1¼ times the population of Canberra came into Australia. In 2024-25 306,000—slightly less than the population of Canberra—came into Australia. This is not looking after the home affairs.
This is being completely recalcitrant from the reality of what is before us. Why do you believe that you can match the political, personal and religious philosophies just by reason of them arriving in Australia? It's not correct.
It doesn't work. I'm not an imbecile. I'm not a racist.
But we have to that understand that we can't just keep pouring people into Australia and thinking that everything's going to be fine and dandy. It's not. I want to ask the minister—and he knows better than all of us—how we can bring into this nation people with a view which I know would be anathema to the member for Bruce and just expect them to change that view.
What are we going to do to change it? I know that the member for Bruce and I, on different sides of the political equation, believe in something. There are the guardrails for Australian culture, and if you step outside them you're stepping outside what Australia is.
You must abide by those guardrails. Home Affairs, where he is responsible, must make sure that those guardrails remain intact. Do you see any problem with any other philosophy that comes into our nation?
Do you ever step aside from political correctness and say: 'No, that is not acceptable. That philosophy is not acceptable, and we will not tolerate it in this nation, this incredible nation we've created'? Do you have the courage to clearly enunciate what those issues are, to stand behind exactly what those issues are?
Do you have the courage to say, in the face of the people who do not believe them, exactly your beliefs on behalf of Australia are? It's dangerous. It's scary.
But you've got to do it. Can you explain why we exist in this netherworld, where we talk up and down and around about the Chinese Communist Party and the PLA without ever mentioning their name? We know what's going on here.
Why do we play this stupid game? We've just had the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands here—and I'd like to commend the Prime Minister of Australia on that; I really would. Congratulations.
Good work! But why do we all play this game? How are we dealing with that, Minister?
Why aren't we being honest about exactly what the problem is? We all know it, but we don't say it, because we're scared. We're scared.
That's a terrible thing for a nation that prides itself on the Gallipoli experience on Anzac Day. Can the minister explain what he loves about Australia and what he'll offer to protect it? What is the culture of our home?
Minister, Member for Bruce, what is the culture that connects you and me on different sides of the political chasm, with the same incredible, indelible belief of a love of our nation that we know is at threat and that you must protect? (Time expired) Proposed expenditure agreed to. Ordered that consideration in detail of the bill be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
Federation Chamber adjourned at 19 : 35