New asylum-seeker boat revives blame game



BOTH sides of politics have seized on the arrival of the first asylum-seeker boat since the government shelved its Malaysian people swap, pointing the finger of blame at their opponents.


Border protection authorities intercepted the boat, carrying 51 passengers and four crew, off Australia’s northwest coast overnight.

The Customs boats ACV Triton and ACV Hervey Bay went to the vessel’s aid after it called for assistance.

Unable to enact her Malaysian Solution, the Prime Minister last week announced all asylum-seekers would be processed onshore, with many to be released into the community while their claims are processed.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the government’s stubborn refusal to adopt a Coalition plan to process asylum-seekers on Nauru had led to the latest boat arrival.

“This is the first boat to arrive under the government’s new `Greens Solution’, announced last week, where asylum seekers will continue to be processed onshore, as well as released into the community with access to work rights and welfare,” he said.

But Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said the Coalition was responsible for the latest boat arrival because of its refusal to support the Malaysia Solution.

“We have an opposition that has now trashed border protection by opposing legislation that would allow this government and future governments to have an offshore processing arrangement for people-smugglers and dealing with people-smugglers,” he said.

 

 

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