Australian PM on asylum seekers, Labour Party

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison claimed on Monday thousands of asylum seekers would attempt to reach the country by boat if the opposition wins next month's national election.

Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister said "We established Operation Sovereign Borders, and it has been one of the most successful border protection policies anywhere in the world. So successful, that other countries are taking their lead from Australia's successful approach, and why? It's the humane thing to do, it enabled us to close 17 detention centres, it enabled us to get all the children out of detention, it enabled us to get those children off Manus Island that Labor put on Manus Island.”

Morrison suggested his coalition government's record amounted to "one of the most successful border protection policies anywhere in the world". Morrison blamed a previous Labor government abolishing three-year refugee visas in 2008 for the surge in boat arrivals.