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Defence Minister Richard Marles has insisted there are “no ifs, no buts,” about the government’s commitment to funding border security, as he rejected accusations of budget cuts from the opposition.
The Albanese government has come under pressure following the arrival of more than 40 asylum seekers in a remote Western Australian community on February 17.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan have heavily criticised the government’s handling of the border, with both claiming $600 million had been cut from the Australian Border Force.
Both argued that people smugglers had been emboldened as a result, suggesting Australia could be set to see more arrivals due the government’s “weak” response.
However, speaking to Sky News Australia on Sunday, Mr Marles pushed back against those claims, saying funding for border security had increased compared to the previous Coalition government.
“Well, that criticism is just, frankly, a lie. I mean, it is actually not true. We’ve increased funding to the support of our border,” he said.
“The government has increased expenditure, on our border. No ifs, no buts. It’s a matter of record. And the fact that the opposition is desperately trying to say otherwise says more about the way in which the opposition goes.”
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