Morrison suffers historic defeat as Labor passes refugee medical transfers bill

Scott Morrison has slammed Bill Shorten and claimed every new people-smuggling boat arrival will be “on his head” after the Opposition Leader successfully passed a bill giving doctors more power to bring offshore asylum seekers to Australia.

In a historic defeat in Parliament, Labor secured the support of the Greens and crossbench MPs to overpower the government and pass the medevac bill, essentially giving doctors more of a say in allowing asylum seekers held offshore to seek medical treatment here – the first time in almost 80 years that a government has lost a vote on its own significant legislation in the House of Representatives.

Morrison told reporters on Tuesday night that the bill presents “the very real risk of seeing the boats run again”, before adding: “Every arrival is on Bill Shorten and Labor’s head, every arrival, every risk is on his head.”

According to multiple reports, Labor was joined by the Greens and all independents except Bob Katter to pass the refugee transfer bill by 75 votes to 74.

Addressing the defeat in a press conference shortly after, Morrison added: “Less than 24 hours ago, I warned Australia that Bill Shorten would make Australia weaker and the Labor Party would weaken our border protection.

Our border protection framework works. We stopped the boats, stopped the deaths at sea, closed the detention centres, removed all children from detention and from Nauru. Tonight Labor have demonstrated again they just don’t understand how to protect Australia’s borders.

— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) February 12, 2019

“That they could not be trusted to do the right thing to secure Australia. Within 24 hours, Bill Shorten and the Labor Party have proved me absolutely right.”

He added: “What happened in the Parliament tonight was proof positive that Bill Shorten and the Labor Party do not have the mettle, do not have what is required and do not understand what is necessary to ensure that Australia’s border protection framework and broader national security interests can be managed, by Labor.”

While Morrison was likely disappointed with the loss, he insisted to reporters that the outcome had been considered and border protection “contingency plans” were being activated.

He also hopes the amendments will not pass the Senate, but insisted that he would not stand in the way of it receiving royal assent.

Addressing his historic win on Twitter, Shorten made clear that it would only apply to people who are already on Manus and Nauru.

Importantly – it only applies to people who are already on Manus and Nauru. This means the people smugglers don’t have a product to sell and can never again resume their trade in human misery.

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) February 12, 2019

“The legislation Labor passed in the House of Representatives today ensures that people in Australia’s care, can get urgent medical treatment when they need it,” he wrote. “Our legislation preserves the security of regional processing, it ensures the government has the power to deny criminals and national security risks entry to Australia.”

He added: “Importantly – it only applies to people who are already on Manus and Nauru. This means the people smugglers don’t have a product to sell and can never again resume their trade in human misery.

Watch @leighsales interview with @PeterDutton_MP #abc730 pic.twitter.com/BaSBRB2QGT

— abc730 (@abc730) February 12, 2019

“The Australian people understand our nation can be strong on borders and still treat people humanely. We can preserve our national security and still look after people to whom we owe a duty of care. This legislation gets that balance right.”

Appearing on Leigh Sales’ ABC 7.30 program just hours later, Peter Dutton warned it could leave Australia’s borders more open to people smugglers and added: “This puts Australia back on the map for people smugglers and Bill Shorten has that on his shoulders.”

He added: “I think Mr Shorten doesn’t yet understand the full consequence of his decision tonight, but I think the Australian public do.”

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott weighed into the debate on Twitter and wrote: “Bill Shorten has surrendered to the left on border protection. We all know that parties of the centre-left are becoming more left and less centre. So Shorten has put party unity ahead of border security.”