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November 2nd, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Updated
Asylum tragedy… rescuers approach the capsized boat in Indonesia’s West Java
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the Government should bring on a vote on its proposed changes to the Migration Act in light of the drowning of asylum seekers off Indonesia.
The legislation would put the offshore processing of asylum seekers beyond legal doubt, but the Coalition will not support it because it would allow asylum seekers to be sent to Malaysia.
The Government could not get the support of enough crossbenchers to pass the bill last month, and Mr Abbott used today’s Question Time to taunt the Government about its failure to get the legislation over the line.
“If as the Acting Prime Minister [Wayne Swan] has just informed the House it is so important that the Malaysia people swap be put into effect, will the Government immediately bring before the Parliament for a vote the people swap legislation?” he said.
“We have six confirmed dead… we have 20 missing, we have 46 rescued. This is a tragedy. Issues like this need to be dealt with and this is why the measure in question be brought into the House urgently.”
Mr Swan did not accept the challenge, but Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese went one step further, accusing the Opposition of politicising the tragedy.
Mr Albanese says the Opposition interrupted Question Time because it was uncomfortable about the Government putting pressure on Joe Hockey about his knowledge of Qantas’s plans to ground its fleet.
“They did it because they’ve put the Member for North Sydney in witness protection,” he said.
“We asked two questions in a row about his melting down on the 7.30 Report last night, so they shut Question Time down.”
Mr Abbott’s comments come as the search continues for survivors of the asylum seeker boat that sank in heavy seas off the coast of Java yesterday.
Eight people died when the boat capsized near the coastal town of Pangandaran, but dozens more were rescued. Up to 15 people are still missing.
While the weather has improved today, the prospect of finding survivors looks grim.
This morning Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said it was “very clear” the nine-metre boat was heading to Australia.
Local authorities say the people on board were from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Retrospective laws
Meanwhile, last-minute legislation introduced by the Government on Tuesday night has dashed the hopes of lawyers representing accused people smugglers.
More than 150 men, predominantly from Indonesia, are detained in Australian jails for the offence of people smuggling. They are all awaiting lengthy trials.
Legal Aid lawyers acting on behalf of 12 men detained in Victoria won the right in August to challenge the relevant laws under the Migration Act.
The case was due to start in the Court of Appeal tomorrow, but last night the Government introduced retrospective legislation to “clarify” smuggling laws.
Legal Aid lawyer Saul Holt says the Government’s move targets the court case.
“Retrospective legislation in criminal law is an extraordinary step. It is hardly ever taken by parliaments,” he said.
The matter has now been adjourned because of the new legislation.
refugees,
community-and-society,
immigration,
federal-parliament,
parliament,
federal-government,
laws,
australia,
java,
indonesia
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