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July 8th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
Updated
The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has slammed the Coalition’s asylum seeker policy, labelling the Opposition leader’s slogans of turning back the boats as “hollow”.
Tony Abbott has cast doubt on the likelihood of Coalition representatives serving on the government’s multi-party reference group for asylum policy.
He told the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday that the Coalition already had a clear policy on the issue, saying the Opposition did not “need an external committee to tell us what our policy is.”
“Rather than appoint new committees to tell her what her policy should be, the prime minister should be using the committee that’s been set up for this purpose, the Cabinet,” Mr Abbott said.
But Ms Gillard says Mr Abbott is still refusing to provide details on how his policy will work.
“It was a truly remarkable performance. Amongst the many things that were remarkable about what Tony Abbott said on Insiders today, he confirmed he was too much of a coward to raise with the president of Indonesia his so-called plan to turn back boats,” she said.
“When pressed on details of how this plan would work, he was simply unable to give them.
“Mr Abbott’s slogan from today on is a completely hollow one. He simply can’t explain his plan.
“Now is the time for Mr Abbott to put the politics to one side and to work with others across the Parliament, including the government, to get an effective solution to asylum seeker questions and the effective operation of offshore processing.”
Ten days ago, the prime minister appointed an expert panel to consider policy options and confer with a group of parliamentarians who would represent the views of the major parties and the crossbench.
The Opposition had previously demanded a terms of reference before deciding whether to put forward a representative for the group.
Video: Abbott opposed to asylum reference group
(Insiders)
No details
Mr Abbott reiterated the Coalition’s plans to turn asylum boats, destined for Australia, around.
However, he refused to outline details of how the policy would work in practice.
Various naval commanders have explained all this in great detail before Senate estimates committees and elsewhere. It was done in the past, it can be done in the future.
“Various naval commanders have explained all this in great detail before Senate estimates committees and elsewhere,” he said.
“It was done in the past, it can be done in the future.
“It’s dangerous work, but that’s why people join the armed forces, they go into harm’s way to help the country.”
Mr Abbott said the policy would undermine people smugglers’ business model and deter asylum seekers from attempting the dangerous sea voyage.
But Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Opposition must work with the reference group on asylum seeker policy to find a solution for Australia.
“The reference group will go ahead,” Ms Gillard said.
“Given Mr Abbott can’t explain his policy to turn back boats and lacks the guts to put it to Indonesia, he really should stop the politicking and work with others in the Parliament through the reference group to get a effective solution for our nation.
“He should have the decency to put the national interest first, particularly when he can’t explain to the Australian people what his policy is.”
‘Precipitating a crisis’
Greens Party leader Christine Milne says Mr Abbott’s policy is blatantly going against the Australian Navy’s recommendations and putting relationships with Indonesia at risk.
“Tony Abbott is actually precipitating a crisis if he thinks he can turn up as prime minister and direct the navy to abuse and undermine its own commitments on safety of life at sea,” Senator Milne said.
“What Tony Abbott is exposing is not a debate about saving lives for the Coalition, it is absolutely a debate about not only jeopardising lives with his ‘turn back the boats’ inhumane policy, but it will seriously undermine our relationship with Indonesia.”
While conceding the Indonesian government may not agree, Mr Abbott told Insiders he stands by his party’s policy regardless of how it is interpreted overseas.
“I accept that from time to time Australia will do things the Indonesians don’t particularly like,” he said.
“The difference between the government I lead and the current government is I won’t be playing this for media advantage and I will try to have a no surprises policy with the Indonesians.”
Mr Abbott had a private meeting with the Indonesian president last week but would not say whether the Opposition’s policies were raised.
Topics:
federal-parliament,
liberals,
political-parties,
government-and-politics,
immigration,
refugees,
australia
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