Shadow Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally has insisted temporary protection visas are not necessary as Labor continues to face questions over its border security policy.
Labor wants to abolish the visas if it wins government, although the Coalition argues TPVs are a crucial part of deterring illegal arrivals under Operation Sovereign Borders.
The TPVs are currently issued by the Coalition to asylum seekers who arrive in Australia without a visa.
Ms Keneally said Labor supports Operation Sovereign Borders, regional resettlement, offshore processing and boat turnbacks where it is safe to do so but not TPVs.
“We are quite clear on our position on temporary protection visas… and that is temporary protection visas are not part of Operation Sovereign Borders,” Ms Kenneally told Sky News Australia host Laura Jayes on Thursday.
“Nobody has gone on temporary protection visas 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.”
However, in an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia’s Paul Murray on Wednesday night, 2GB radio host Ray Hadley pointed out a key weakness in Labor’s stance.
