Labor attacks Tony Abbott over asylum seekers


Tony Abbott has strongly indicated that he will not support the govt’s changes to migration laws.





Julia Gillard

Julia Gillard is facing pressure from withing over the Malaysian asylum-seeker push. Picture: supplied
Source: The Australian


Tony Abbott

Labor has accused Tony Abbott of risking the lives of boat people. Picture: supplied
Source: AP


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THE Federal Government has accepted the prospect that parliament may vote down its plan to resurrect the asylum-seeker swap deal with Malaysia.


In doing so, Labor accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of recklessness and taking an “unconscionable risk” with the lives of boat people.

Mr Abbott will have discussions with Prime Minister Julia Gillard tomorrow about changes the government is proposing to the Migration Act.

He is expected to reiterate the coalition’s view the proposed changes strip away human rights protections provided by a 60 year-old United Nations convention on refugees.

Labor needs the support of the coalition to have parliament approve changes that will legalise offshore processing arrangements, including the Malaysia solution.

But the signs are not good for the government.

Opposition frontbencher Greg Hunt has warned coalition support for the changes was “exceptionally unlikely” because the draft laws strip out protections for asylum seekers.

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“This is a first for Australia,” he said, challenging Ms Gillard to nominate another developed nation that had done the same.

Cabinet Minister Craig Emerson warned rejection of the changes would rule out any offshore processing by any elected government.

“It would mean a government would not be able to control the flow of asylum seekers to Australia,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“This would be the height of recklessness.”

Dr Emerson urged Mr Abbott to consider “very carefully” the consequences of coalition opposition to the changes.

It would mean that onshore processing was the only option.

That meant more boat arrivals and more people losing their life at sea, Dr Emerson said.

“I think that is an unconscionable risk”.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown insists there is majority support in the community for onshore processing.

By default, the coalition could end up supporting the Greens position on asylum seekers if it voted down Labor’s plan.

“Wrong motive, right outcome,” Senator Brown said.

Labor’s Left faction will meet in Canberra on Monday to discuss concerns about the removal of legal protections and Australia’s obligations to refugees.

But Dr Emerson said the Labor caucus already had given the changes its approval, even though the actual legislation was made available for the first time late on Friday.

A former Liberal immigration minister has cast doubt on the ability of the Malaysia deal to thwart people smugglers.

Under that arrangement, up to 800 asylum seekers arriving by boat will be transferred to Malaysia in exchange for Australia accepting 4000 properly processed refugees.

“It’s just not going to work,” Amanda Vanstone said, adding people smugglers would continue to ship asylum seekers to Australia until the 800 figure was reached.

Ms Vanstone maintains offshore processing centres and temporary protection visas are the best measures for stopping asylum-seeker boats.

The coalition says its policy – reopening an offshore processing centre in Nauru – is an effective deterrent with a more humane outcome.

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