I welcome the opportunity to serve the Coalition team in the senior role of Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence.
Having served the nation as Minister for Home Affairs, I know how crucial the work of this Department and its Agencies is for both national security and community safety.
Like many people, I was deeply concerned that one of the first things the Albanese Government did was dismantle the portfolio and move three elite criminal law and intelligence agencies – AFP, ACIC and AUSTRAC – to the Attorney General’s Department.
I will be shadowing the portfolio as it existed, including those agencies moved under Labor.
I intend to hold the government to account for any impact on the effective operation of these agencies or any resourcing that is diverted.
Under the Coalition, our law enforcement agencies have received record funding, and I will expose any attempt to undercut them. Labor won’t get away with raiding our national security budget to pay for their big spending promises.
I am also pleased to take on the specific role of Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence.
Nothing is more important than the safety of our children and our homes should be places of nurturing. Violence against women and children is a dark stain on our society and one that we need to continue working vigilantly to address.
Working with the AFP’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation – which we funded and created – the Coalition Government has significantly improved child protection arrangements. But there is always more to be done.
Finally, we have already seen that people smugglers are looking to test the resolve of the new government.
I will work to ensure the government remains resolute on border security – and does not bend to pressure from the independents and the Greens.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity to deliver continuity and certainty in this important role. I am determined to pressure the government to ensure national security is prioritised – in order to keep all Australians safe and protect our way of life.
