SUBJECTS: Offshore processing; Labor’s plan to strengthen Medicare.
 
JOURNALIST: Can you clarify your position on if you want to remove offshore processing?
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Of course, not. It was established in 2013 when I was the Deputy Prime Minister. I was asked today about boat turn-backs. Our position is clear. We continue to support them. And the thing about the Government is that they waited a long, long period of time before they had finally taken up the deal that was done between Julia Gillard and John Key a long time ago for New Zealand settlement from people from offshore. That should have been taken up a long time ago.
 
JOURNALIST: So, what do you mean when you say turning back boats means you don't need offshore detention?
 
ALBANESE: Well, that's the preference. At the moment, there aren't people who have gone into offshore detention in recent times because the boats have been turned back. It's been effective.
 
JOURNALIST: But you would keep offshore detention in?
 
ALBANESE: Yes.
 
JOURNALIST: From the Royal College of Australian College of GPs, Karen Price just said that she wasn't consulted on the clinics issue. You had said that you had worked with them. Could you clarify?
 
ALBANESE: Well, her position was clear. I quoted her position in the press conference this morning. Thanks very much.
 
ENDS