Media Centre
Speeches and transcripts – 2012
This section offers speeches and transcripts published by the minister in 2012.
Note: Speeches and transcripts are ordered by date, not by topic.
View the minister's speech RSS feed
December
- 17 December – Sri Lankan returns, people smugglers, boat arrivals, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with John Stanley, 2UE Mornings.)
- 15 December – United States school shooting, Budget surplus, the Australian economy, scathing Federal Court judgement on Liberal Party, Sri Lankan returns, refugee resettlement (Interview with Chris Kenny, Sky News Saturday Agenda.)
- 06 December – Involuntary returns to Sri Lanka (Interview with Alexandra Kirk, ABC AM.)
November
- 26 November – Regional processing, boat arrivals, 'no advantage' principle, Nauru, Greens statements (Interview with Lyndal Curtis, ABC 24.)
- 23 November – Coalition's reheated asylum seeker policies, humanitarian program, Significant Investor visa, bridging visas, AWU (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 22 November – Offshore processing, boat arrivals, Sri Lankan returns, increase in humanitarian intake, 'no advantage' principle, Nauru, Manus Island (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 22 November – Sri Lankan returns, Afghan return, Manus Island, Nauru, 'no advantage' principle for people onshore, humanitarian intake (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 02 November – Returns to Sri Lanka, boat arrivals, Manus Island, Gorgon Project (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 01 November – Australian Tourism (Speech to Australian Tourism Directions Conference, Canberra.)
October
- 31 October – Changes to the Migration Act, Expert Panel, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM.)
- 30 October – Changes to the Migration Act, Nauru (Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News PM Agenda.)
- 30 October – Changes to the Migration Act, Nauru, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with Melissa Clarke, ABC News 24.)
- 27 October – Sri Lankan removals from Cocos Island, voluntary returns, Penny Wong (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 19 October – Sri Lankan boat, people smugglers, boat arrivals, no advantage principle, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with Stuart Bocking, 2UE Mornings.)
- 17 October – Boat arrivals, regional processing on Nauru, returns to Sri Lanka, humanitarian intake, Tony Abbott in Indonesia (Interview with Leigh Sales, ABC 7.30.)
- 16 October – Abbott's turn back policy, asylum seeker processing, adverse security assessments and regional processing (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 15 October – Settlements Works report, refugee resettlement in regional areas, humanitarian intake, Tony Abbott in Indonesia, boat arrivals, Malaysia Arrangement, the Newman Government (Doorstop interview, Rockhampton.)
- 15 October – Boat arrivals, regional processing on Nauru, returns to Sri Lanka, humanitarian intake, Tony Abbott in Indonesia (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 09 October – Papua New Guinea designation, polls (Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM.)
- 05 October – Visit to Nauru and Papua New Guinea, boat arrivals, Expert Panel recommendations, Humanitarian Program, returns to Sri Lanka (Interview with David Lipson, Sky News AM Agenda.)
- 05 October – Visit to Papua New Guinea, talks with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill (Press Conference, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.)
- 03 October – Visit to Nauru and Papua New Guinea, offshore processing, boat arrivals (Interview with Alison Carabine, ABC Radio National Breakfast.)
- 02 October – Alan Jones, Dutch politician Geert Wilders, Nauru (Interview with Julie Doyle, ABC News 24.)
- 02 October – Dutch politician Geert Wilders, Alan Jones, Nauru (Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM.)
September
- 25 September – Sri Lankan voluntary returns, people smugglers, regional processing at Nauru (Interview with John Laws, 2SM Mornings.)
- 22 September – Group of Sri Lankans returned home, removing family reunion concessions, health services on Nauru, detention centre upgrades (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 18 September – Asylum seeker transfers to Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Enterprise Migration Agreements, Sydney protests (Press Conference, Canberra.)
- 14 September – Asylum seeker transfer to Nauru, Expert Panel recommendations, 'no advantage' principle, Tony Abbott (Press Conference, Sydney.)
- 11 September – Asylum seeker transfers to Nauru, Malaysia Arrangement, people smugglers, Coalition hypocrisy (Interview with Paul Henry, Ten Breakfast.)
- 11 September – Asylum seeker transfers to Nauru, Malaysia Arrangement, people smugglers (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 10 September – Designating Nauru as a regional processing country, transfers to Nauru, asylum seeker boats, the Greens (Press Conference, Canberra.)
August
- 30 August – Address to the Non-resident Nepali Association Regional Conference (Address to conference in Sydney NSW.)
- 30 August – Boat tragedy off Indonesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with David Speers, Sky News PM Agenda.)
- 30 August – Australia's moral obligations toward people seeking asylum (Address to the second annual Bishop Joseph Grech Colloquium on Ethics and Migration, Melbourne Victoria.)
- 28 August – Detention budget, offshore processing, increase to humanitarian intake, Greens policy, boat arrivals, foreign investment, people smuggling, Malaysia arrangement (Interview with John Laws, 2SM Mornings.)
- 23 August – Houston report on asylum seekers (Joint Press Conference with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Canberra.)
- 18 August – Reconnaissance teams, boat arrivals, Houston Panel Report, Nauru, Papua New Guinea (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 15 August – Expert panel report, boat arrivals, offshore processing legislation, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, humanitarian program, turning back boats (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 15 August – Expert panel report, offshore processing legislation, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, humanitarian program (Interview with Lyndal Curtis, ABC News 24.)
- 15 August – Expert panel report, offshore processing legislation, boat arrivals, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, humanitarian intake (Interview with David Speers, Sky News Agenda.)
- 15 August – Houston Report, James Shore (Interview with Howard Sattler, 6PR.)
- 14 August – Expert panel report, negotiations with the Coalition, offshore processing, deaths at sea, Nauru (Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW.)
- 14 August – Expert panel report, Nauru, Malaysia, TPVs, turning back boats (Interview with Ben Fordham, Channel Nine Today.)
- 14 August – Expert panel report, offshore processing legislation, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, refugee intake (Interview with Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National Breakfast.)
- 14 August – Expert panel report, offshore processing legislation, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, refugee intake (Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News AM Agenda.)
- 13 August – Expert panel report, Malaysia Arrangement, Nauru (Interview with Chris Uhlmann, ABC 7.30.)
- 13 August – Houston Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers (Joint Press Conference with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Canberra.)
- 12 August – Expert panel, Coalition arrogance, Greens policy, boat in distress, people smuggling, suspected missing boat, same sex marriage, leadership of the ALP (Interview with Barrie Cassidy, ABC Insiders.)
- 10 August – Boat in distress, expert panel, Coalition arrogance, Greens policy, Navy patrol boats (Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM.)
- 02 August – Address to the Australian Mines and Metals Association Migration and Labour sourcing conference (Address to conference in Brisbane.)
July
- 23 July – Humanitarian intake, people smuggling, Malaysia arrangement, expert panel, leadership of Australian Labor Party (Interview with John Laws, 2SM Mornings.)
- 17 July – Expert panel, asylum seeker legislation, Labor Party (Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News.)
- 14 July – Is offshore policy fair? Just ask the migrants (Opinion - Weekend Australian.)
- 06 July – Multi-party reference group, Coalition's 'turning back the boats' policy (Doorstop interview, Darwin, Northern Territory.)
- 06 July – Multi-Party Reference Group, expert panel (Interview with Alexandra Kirk, ABC AM.)
- 03 July – Asylum seeker legislation, Malaysia arrangement, Nauru, Bali Process (Interview with Linda Mottram, ABC Sydney Mornings.)
- 02 July – Cooperation with Indonesia on people smuggling, Malaysia arrangement, Nauru, asylum seeker legislation, expert panel on asylum seekers (Interview with Howard Sattler, 6PR Drive.)
June
- 29 June – Asylum seeker legislation, compromise with the Coalition, expert panel (Interview with David Lipson, Sky News.)
- 29 June – Expert panel, offshore processing legislation, compromise with the Coalition, Nauru (Interview with Leigh Sales, ABC 7.30.)
- 28 June – Asylum seeker legislation (Interview with Richard King, 2SM Mornings.)
- 28 June – Refugee intake, asylum seeker legislation, 457 visas (Interview with Leon Byner, 5AA Mornings.)
- 28 June – Offshore processing legislation (Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News AM Agenda.)
- 28 June – Boat tragedy, asylum seeker legislation (Interview with Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National Breakfast.)
- 28 June – Asylum seeker legislation, Expert advisory panel (Joint Press Conference with Prime Minister Julia Gillard.)
- 27 June – Third reading speech (Speech delivered by the Minister to the House of Representatives, Parliament House.)
- 27 June – Boat rescue and offshore processing (Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW Mornings.)
- 27 June – Compromise with the Opposition, TPVs, Malaysia arrangement (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 27 June – Asylum seeker legislation (Joint Press Conference Canberra with Julia Gillard - Prime Minister of Australia and Chris Bowen MP - Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.)
- 26 June – Asylum seeker debate, compromise with the Coalition (Doorstoop, Parliament House, Canberra.)
- 26 June – Compromise with the Opposition, offshore processing, Malaysia Arrangment (Interview with Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National Breakfast.)
- 25 June – Boat tragedy, offshore processing legislation, Malaysia Arrangement, Nauru, Temporary Protection Visas, the Greens (Interview with David Speers, Sky News.)
- 15 June – Ali Al Abbasi (Captain Emad), Cocos Islands (Interview with Alexandra Kirk, ABC PM.)
- 05 June – People smuggling, Enterprise Migration Agreements (Interview with David Speers, Sky News)
- 05 June – People smuggling, offshore processing, Enterprise Migration Agreements (Interview with Lyndal Curtis, ABC News 24.)
- 05 June – People smuggling, offshore processing, Enterprise Migration Agreements (Interview with Alexandra Kirk, The World Today, ABC Radio.)
May
- 25 May – Skilled migration benefits and reforms (Address to the National Press Club)
- 25 May – New Significant Investor visa, reforms to the Business Skills visa program, Craig Thomson (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 25 May – Enterprise Migration Agreements, reforms to attract investors and entrepreneurs to Australia, ASIO security clearances, boat arrivals, Craig Thomson (Question and Answer Session National Press Club, Canberra.)
- 24 May – Yongah Hill immigration detention centre, community detention, bridging visas, Coalition's refusal to support offshore processing, boat arrivals, Coalition's dangerous tow backs policy, Nauru (Interview with Harvey Deegan, 6PR Drive)
- 22 May – Boat arrivals, moving asylum seeker children into community-based accomodation, security assessments, bridging visas, homestay program, Craig Thomson (Interview with Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National Breakfast.)
- 02 May – India and Australia: A relationship of mutual benefit (Speech to the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi.)
- 02 May – Minister's visit to Sri Lanka, asylum seekers, people smuggling, refugee resettlement (Interview with Richard Lindell, ABC 24.)
April
- 14 April – Boat located in Indonesia, boat arrivals, mandatory detention, offshore processing, Malaysia Arragenment, Coalition intransigence, Bob Brown and the Greens (Interview with Chris Kenny, Sky News Saturday Agenda.)
- 11 April – Chinese asylum seekers, Indonesia, Coalition opportunism (Interview with Lyndal Curtis, ABC News 24.)
- 11 April – Chinese asylum seekers, boat arrivals, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with David Speers, Sky News PM Agenda.)
- 03 April – Arthur Calwell Memorial Lecture (Speech Delivered in Melbourne.)
- 02 April – Skilled American workers to fill labour shortages; poll; boat arrival (Joint Press Conference with Senator Chris Evans on US work visa arrangement.)
March
- 30 March – Joint Select Committee Report on Australia's Immigration Detention Network, community detention, bridging visas (Interview with Emma Alberici, ABC Lateline.)
- 15 March – Coalition's policy to 'turn back the boats', Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with Ashleigh Gillon, Sky News PM Agenda.)
- 14 March – Migration from China, international students, skilled migration, asylum seekers, Malaysia arrangement, people smuggling, Serco training manual (Interview with Jim Middleton -NEWSLINE, Australia Network.)
- 11 March – Malaysia Arrangement, Indonesia, turning back the boats, Australian Labor Party, Budget, Defence reviews (Interview with Paul Bongiorno, Stefanie Balogh and Mark Kenny, Meet The Press, Channel Ten)
- 09 March – 2012 CPD Immigration Law Conference - Immigration Lawyers Association of Australasia (Keynote address to the CPD Immigration Law Conference, Sydney.)
February
- 27 February – Mark Arbib, Australian Labor Party (Interview with David Speers, Sky News PM Agenda.)
- 26 February – Australian Labor Party, Malaysia Arrangement (Interview with Peter Van Onselen, Paul Kelly and Dennis Shanahan, Sky News Australian Agenda.)
- 23 February – Australian Labor Party (Interview with Lyndal Curtis, ABC News 24.)
- 17 February – Community detention, resettlement, offshore processing, asylum claims, Individual Allowance Points, government measures to ease cost of living pressures, set top boxes (Interview with Leon Byner, 5AA.)
- 17 February – Community detention, asylum seekers, offshore processing (Interview with David Oldfield, 2UE.)
- 17 February – Community detention, offshore processing, boat arrivals (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 16 February – Pontville Immigration Detention Centre (Interview with Leon Compton, ABC Hobart Mornings.)
- 09 February – Detention contracts, Opposition's refusal to negotiate on offshore processing, asylum seekers' documentation (Interview with Adam Spencer, ABC Sydney Breakfast.)
- 03 February – The Refugee Convention and Beyond (Keynote address to the Australasian Chapter Regional Conference, Melbourne.)
January
- 26 January – Australia Day, citizenship, Anthony Albanese speech, offshore processing (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 25 January – Immigration Department advice on Nauru, costings, no Coalition plan to fund Nauru, Temporary Protection Visas, ALP policy (Interview with Lyndal Curtis, ABC News Breakfast.)
- 24 January – Correspondence with the Opposition, offshore processing, Malaysia arrangement, Opposition's policies of Nauru, Temporary Protection Visas and turning back boats (Doorstop interview, Sydney.)
- 24 January – Discussions with the Opposition, offshore processing (Interview with Marius Benson, ABC NewsRadio.)
- 23 January – Opposition's turning back boats policy, boat arrivals, poker machine reform (Interview with Steve Price, MTR Breakfast.)
- 21 January – Opposition's turning back boats policy, Temporary Protection Visas, Malaysia arrangement, Nauru, negotiating with the Opposition (Interview with Sabra Lane, 2UE Breakfast.)