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September 8th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
WARNINGS that 600 asylum-seekers a month will descend on Australia if offshore processing is not restored are alarmist nonsense.
So says the Coalition, who claims the figure was never put to it during official briefings.
But as Immigration Minister Chris Bowen grappled with how to amend the migration laws to restore offshore processing, sources in Jakarta told The Australian a number of smuggling boats were about to be put to water.
It’s understood one vessel, organised by smuggling kingpin Haji Sakhi and carrying between 40 and 50 people, either has sailed, or is about to sail, off Sulawesi.
The boat is expected to arrive off Ashmore Reef within days.
Yesterday, the Coalition rounded on the government over claims that onshore processing of refugees posed a threat to Australia’s social fabric.
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Opposition legal affairs spokesman George Brandis said a figure widely reported in yesterday’s media – that without offshore processing Australia could expect an average of 600 boatpeople a month – was news to the opposition.
“No statement was made to the briefing yesterday that they estimated 600 refugees a month would seek asylum in Australia unless the Malaysia Solution was adopted,” Senator Brandis told The Australian.
“In fact, the 600 figure was never mentioned.”
On Wednesday, Tony Abbott and several of his frontbenchers received a government-approved briefing from Immigration Department head Andrew Metcalfe, outlining the implications of the recent High Court ruling on Australia’s offshore processing regime.
The number of 600 appears to have been provided to journalists who, according to The Daily Telegraph, were also briefed by officials in Canberra a few hours before the Coalition.
The figure appears to be based on the average number of arrivals last year, when boat traffic was at its heaviest.
The opposition’s immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, confirmed that the figure of 600 was never mentioned and accused the government of using Wednesday’s briefing as an “immature media stunt”.
Mr Morrison said Mr Metcalfe warned of the possibility of increased boat numbers if the Malaysia Solution were not restored, but he said Mr Metcalfe did not warn the Coalition of the risk of social disorder if offshore processing were not pursued.
And he said suggestions Australia was headed down the European path, where high immigrant numbers have been a major and chronic source of social instability, were irresponsible.
“If the Coalition had made that comment or briefed it to the media, we would have been absolutely chastised,” Mr Morrison told The Australian.
Responding to the attacks on Mr Metcalfe, which included a call for the department secretary’s resignation from Greens leader Bob Brown, Mr Bowen said Mr Metcalfe’s remarks had been represented in “simplistic terms”.
“The allegation of xenophobia against respected senior department officials – with a longstanding and proud commitment to non-discriminatory immigration – is highly offensive,” Mr Bowen said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: PETER ALFORD
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