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December 22nd, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda AAP
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has welcomed reports that Labor may be prepared to send asylum seekers to Nauru as part of a deal that would pave the way for a resumption of offshore processing of boat arrivals.
But the Liberal leader says any proposal should be put in writing by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The Australian newspaper reports the possibility of processing boat people in Nauru in return for the coalition backing legislation to get around the High Court ruling that killed off Labor’s Malaysia people swap plan.
“It’s good that the government has finally come to its senses on one of the three vital elements in stopping the boats,” Mr Abbott told ABC Radio on Thursday.
“(But) I do expect the prime minister to put this proposal in writing to the opposition.”
The coalition has long argued that reopening a detention centre on Nauru is key to stopping the boats.
But Mr Abbott also wants the government’s border protection regime to include temporary protection visas and the option of turning boats back at sea if it’s safe to do so.
The government has insisted this week that its proposal to send 800 boat arrivals to Malaysia in return for accepting 4000 authorised refugees remains “absolutely essential”.
But Mr Abbott says that even if Labor is prepared to compromise on Nauru – a key part of the former Howard government’s Pacific Solution – he won’t back the Malaysian option.
“It plainly won’t work,” Mr Abbott said.
“Because it didn’t stop the boats after it had been announced, it’s a five-for-one people swap and it doesn’t involve any serious protections for people sent there.”
Mr Abbott again offered to work through Christmas to resolve the issue, which he said should be nutted out between himself and Ms Gillard – not the parties’ immigration spokesmen.
“I do think for something as important as this the prime minister should be prepared to break her holidays.”
Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan wasn’t immediately available for comment.
But he is due to hold a press conference in Brisbane later on Thursday.
Labor has previously argued that Nauru won’t work as a deterrent because most people processed there ended up in Australia or New Zealand anyway.
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