Keneally clashes with Ray Hadley after Labor faces criticism over TPV stance

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally has defended Labor’s stance on Temporary Protection Visas after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was grilled by 2GB host Ray Hadley on the policy.

Labor has said they oppose TPVs, which are currently issued by the Coalition to asylum seekers who arrive in Australia without a visa.

“Our policy is, we support Operation Sovereign Borders … It has been our policy, it is our policy, and it will continue to be our policy,” Ms Keneally said.

“Temporary Protection Visas are not part of Operation Sovereign Borders.

“Nobody has gone on a Temporary Protection Visa since Operation Sovereign Borders was introduced.

“Because if people attempt to come by boat, they will not make it. They will be turned back or sent to Nauru.

“People who go to Nauru are not put on a Temporary Protection Visa, they’re not put on an Australian visa.

“So, with respect to Ray Hadley the other day, he was wrong.”

However, speaking to Sky News Australia in an exclusive interview, Mr Hadley pointed out a key weakness in Labor Leader Anthony Albanese’s TPV stance.

“(Anthony Albanese) made the point that there have been no TPVs issued since 2013, there’s very good reason for that, no one’s come, no one’s come,” Hadley said.

“Because Abbott, Morrison and Jim Molan put together Operation Sovereign Borders – it’s got three prongs to it: turn back the boats when it’s safe to do so, temporary protection visas and of course offshore processing, you take one of the three out you’ve got a mess.”