What we learned, Sunday 18 February
We’ll close up this blog now. Thanks all for your company, comments and correspondence.
The major stories:
We heard a re-enlivened debate – from a decade ago – over an asylum seeker boat arriving in Australia. The Coalition opposition accused the Labor government of “losing control” of the country’s borders after a boat bearing asylum seekers from South Asia arrived in Western Australia. The government responded, saying its commitment to Operation Sovereign Borders “is absolute”. (It should also be noted that asylum seeker boats have arrived in Australia every year for the last 35 years, save for one (2021). And that the number of people who arrive by plane and seek asylum consistently dwarfs the number arriving by boat.)
Tay-Tay is A-OK. Taylor Swift’s Sydney concert will go ahead in Sydney after Olympic Park was cleared of any asbestos risk.
But two more Sydney schools have tested positive for asbestos contamination. There are now more than 30 confirmed sites across Sydney.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln is drifting towards Western Australia but heavy rain could linger a little while longer over north-west Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Updated
Government’s commitment to Operation Sovereign Borders ‘absolute’, home affairs minister says
In response to criticism from opposition leader Peter Dutton that the government had “lost control” of Australia’s borders with the arrival of an asylum seeker boat in Western Australia, the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has said the government’s commitment to Operation Sovereign Borders “is absolute”:
Every person who has attempted to reach Australia by boat since I have been Minister is back in their home country, or in Nauru, having wasted thousands of dollars and having risked their lives.
Operation Sovereign Borders is only possible thanks to the hard work and bravery of the men and women of the Australian Border Force. Protecting our borders is difficult and dangerous and on behalf of all Australians I thank them.
Comments such as those made by the Opposition Leader this weekend run directly counter to Australia’s national security. This conduct undermines Operation Sovereign Borders and gives people smugglers the disinformation they need to get people on boats.
Peter Dutton is trying to weaken our borders for his own political gain. He will say or do anything to wreck, and create division, if it is to his political advantage.
Updated
