Sunday 18th October 2009
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd needs to stem the flow of asylum seekers instead of relying on Indonesia to do the heavy lifting, the federal opposition says.
"The flow (of asylum seekers) is back on full strength and it is a deadly business," opposition immigration spokeswoman Sharman Stone told ABC Television today.
"And that is why we are saying: 'Look, Prime Minister Rudd, look you do something right now other than just calling in Indonesia to do your heavy lifting'."
Dr Stone said the number of asylum seekers had increased from about three boats in 2002/03 to 41 boats since the Labor government "softened" its policy last year.
If the opposition had been in power, the problem wouldn't exist, she said.
"We wouldn't have the problem in the first position, because we had zero boat problems, effectively, when we were in government," she said.
"If Prime Minister Rudd refused to deal with the problem he has created, and we got to our change of government with us in power, you would stand by and see us with a strategic package bringing all of this to a crunch very, very quickly."
The debate was heightened yesterday after two boats, possibly loaded with asylum seekers believed to be heading to Australia, issued distress signals in Malaysian and Indonesian waters.
The Australian navy is on standby to help in the rescue operation led by search and rescue authorities from Malaysia and Indonesia.
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong today said that HMAS Armidale had made contact with one of the boats and everyone on board was believed to be safe.
She defended the government's "tough but humane and fair" approach, saying the situation was a difficult one.
"We have allocated substantial resources in the last budget to border protection," she told Network Ten.
"Obviously, the situation around the world has meant many push factors are increasing the number of people seeking to go elsewhere and this is the situation the government is seeking to manage."
The situation unfolds as a group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers in Indonesia ended a hunger strike.
Their boat, carrying more than 250 ethnic Tamils, was intercepted last weekend by the Indonesian navy en route to Australia and taken to the Javanese city of Merak.
The passengers had refused to leave the boat during the past week, while making emotional pleas for Australia to take them in.
HAZARA NEWS WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2009
Brisbane Times 2009
1 comment:
Hello everyone!
Yeah i believe that these Tamil people seek refuge in Australia then they should be processed in Australian home ground, not in any other foreign countries.
But Hazara's should be separated from this category. They are at risk of further prejudice and further discrimination in their Indigenous home estate, Afghanistan.
Thanks for sharing this article "ADMIN"!
Hope u keep up this post on Afghan Asylum Seekers, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
I WILL BE YOUR FAN(LOL)!
Your Besty!
Dawood Khan
Post a Comment