Opened the debate
Shoebridge argued that the government ignored warnings from human rights organisations that its immigration laws would fuel racism. Shoebridge stated that Labor had collaborated with the Coalition to pass legislation that criminalised asylum seekers and denied them natural justice. Shoebridge contended that the government failed to take responsibility for decades of mandatory detention policies and unfair processing systems. Shoebridge asserted that these laws affected over 100,000 people and families, keeping them in limbo while serving as political tools.