Mr DANBY (11:36 AM) —All of us who are rational are pleased that the issue of Afghan asylum seekers is being addressed by the government, and I certainly support the processing of those asylum seekers who were previously under suspension. We are considering today a motion from the opposition which I must say I find unbelievably hypocritical, given the opposition’s stance during the election. I never thought I would see the day when I would rise to speak on a motion moved by the coalition which noted Australia’s obligations under the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. It surprises my colleagues and I to suddenly learn the coalition is concerned about Australia contravening UN conventions—after all, they were so concerned during their 12 years of government that they locked children behind barbed wire and held them in detention indefinitely.

I would have been more surprised had it not been for the fact that the member for Cook and the coalition had been using the complex asylum seeker issue as a political football to score points with the electorate. This motion shows faux concern for the Afghan refugees from a coalition that, during the last election season, used these poor people as their football. Now they come in here and pretend to be concerned—

Mr Morrison —Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Melbourne is reflecting on my motives and the motives of other members of this chamber in moving this motion, suggesting they are somehow politically based. I ask the member to withdraw.

Mr DANBY —Mr Deputy Speaker, I was talking about the opposition’s faux concerns about the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers after what they had said about these people during previous months.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. Peter Slipper)—There is no point of order. The member for Melbourne Ports has the call.

Mr DANBY —The member for Cook was at the forefront of coalition fear mongering during the election, when the Leader of the Opposition said that Australia was experiencing a passive invasion of boats.

Mr Morrison —Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise on a further point of order. On this occasion the member has accused me of fear mongering—directly, as being at the forefront of fear mongering. I ask that you ask him to withdraw that comment, as it is offensive to me.

Mr Hayes —On the point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker: it is not a point of order. He can rise to ask a question, if the member cares to take it, but let us not make up standing orders as we go.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —I call the member for Melbourne Ports.

Mr DANBY —I think the member for Cook’s concerns about my remarks reveal that I have got to the heart of the matter—the faux concern revealed in this motion versus what they actually did during the election period. It is clear to anybody who examines the record that this is a motion invented solely for the purpose of trying to score a small political point.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —Order! It being 11.40 am, the time allotted for the debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.