Scott morrison stresses national security credentials

The Prime Minister is making national security a central theme in his re-election pitch. Scott Morrison announced $78 million in fresh funding for families escaping domestic abuse, as part

of a wider speech about domestic and international security. He told the National Press Club in Canberra today the Coalition was investing in record defence spending while tackling

cyberbullying, the drug trade, people smuggling and online scammers And the prime minister sought to portray Labor as weak on national security. “Under my government Australia will be

stronger. Under Bill Shorten's Labor government Australia will be weaker.” Mr Morrison cast the definition of national security wider than homeland defence to include personal safety,

particularly for women. “Women in Australia are still the targets of violence, abuse and disrespect,” he told the press club. But the prime minister seized on border protection and Labor’s

backing for a parliamentary bill that would force the government to allow the medical evacuation of asylum seeker detainees on Manus Island and Nauru to mainland Australia on the advice of

two doctors. Labor argues the minister will have the final say on the medical evacuations and the opposition insists it has a tough but fair border protection policy. “You can have strong

policies on the border but you can act with decency and humanity as well,” said Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen. He accused the government of scaremongering ahead of the election campaign –

expected to start in just weeks. “They’ve got one shot in the locker – scare and fear.” Mr Shorten today received briefings from top defence, intelligence and homeland security officials who

warned if the medical evacuation push becomes law, it could rekindle people smuggling. He was also told it could result in 1,000 asylum seekers transferred to Australia within weeks. Labor

is considering making more changes to a proposed bill on asylum seekers medical transfers to ensure the minister has final say. The party’s caucus is meeting tonight to fine tune its stance

on the issue.