ID :
57574
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 09:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/57574
The shortlink copeid
Rudd to blame over latest boat: oppn
(AAP) - The latest asylum-seeker boat intercepted on its way to Australia is a "death trap" and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is to blame for putting lives at risk, the opposition says.
Opposition frontbencher Andrew Robb says the vessel's arrival, the eighth this year
and the third in 10 days, proves the prime minister has gone soft on people
smugglers, with dire consequences.
"People are dying," Mr Robb told ABC TV on Sunday.
"Look at the boat ... of the latest arrivals. That's a death trap. It was filled to
the gunwales with people. It was just a disgrace."
The boat, intercepted on Saturday before it could make it to Australian waters, was
carrying 54 Afghan asylum seekers and two crew.
They have been transferred to HMAS Albany and are expected to arrive at Christmas
Island by Wednesday.
Mr Robb said Labor was solely responsible for stemming the tide of boat people.
"It's not our issue," he said.
"People are dying now. We won't be in government for at least 15 months.
"Kevin Rudd is putting the lives of these illegal migrants in great jeopardy."
But government minister Anthony Albanese says every country is dealing with an
influx of arrivals.
Some 35,000 people were seeking asylum in Italy, and 20,000 were asking for refuge
in Spain.
"Just as the Australian economy isn't immune from the global recession, the issue of
asylum seekers seeking to settle in Australia is not divorced from what's happening
globally," Mr Albanese told the Nine Network.
"We have tough border security and the fact this boat was intercepted indicates that
is working."
A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Liberal Party had
previously conceded international factors including war, terrorism and economic
turmoil where driving people from their homes.
Many of the asylum seekers on a boat captured in Indonesian waters earlier this
month reportedly left Afghanistan when John Howard was still prime minister, she
said.
"This government has dedicated more resources than any previous Australian
government to border protection."
The issue of boat people has become a political hot potato following a fatal
explosion aboard a vessel 10 days ago, which killed five asylum seekers.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has suggested the government should consider
reinstating temporary protection visas (TPVs) as a way of deterring asylum seekers.
But Mr Robb wouldn't be drawn on whether the coalition would adopt that policy
itself if elected to government.
"The onus should be wholly and solely on Kevin Rudd as to what he will do now to
correct the fact that he has gone soft on people smugglers," the Victorian MP said.
"We went to the last election with a policy that worked. It didn't put lives at risk."
Mr Robb says he believes many more boats may be on the way to Australia.
There were "dozens of them in prospect", he said.
Opposition frontbencher Andrew Robb says the vessel's arrival, the eighth this year
and the third in 10 days, proves the prime minister has gone soft on people
smugglers, with dire consequences.
"People are dying," Mr Robb told ABC TV on Sunday.
"Look at the boat ... of the latest arrivals. That's a death trap. It was filled to
the gunwales with people. It was just a disgrace."
The boat, intercepted on Saturday before it could make it to Australian waters, was
carrying 54 Afghan asylum seekers and two crew.
They have been transferred to HMAS Albany and are expected to arrive at Christmas
Island by Wednesday.
Mr Robb said Labor was solely responsible for stemming the tide of boat people.
"It's not our issue," he said.
"People are dying now. We won't be in government for at least 15 months.
"Kevin Rudd is putting the lives of these illegal migrants in great jeopardy."
But government minister Anthony Albanese says every country is dealing with an
influx of arrivals.
Some 35,000 people were seeking asylum in Italy, and 20,000 were asking for refuge
in Spain.
"Just as the Australian economy isn't immune from the global recession, the issue of
asylum seekers seeking to settle in Australia is not divorced from what's happening
globally," Mr Albanese told the Nine Network.
"We have tough border security and the fact this boat was intercepted indicates that
is working."
A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Liberal Party had
previously conceded international factors including war, terrorism and economic
turmoil where driving people from their homes.
Many of the asylum seekers on a boat captured in Indonesian waters earlier this
month reportedly left Afghanistan when John Howard was still prime minister, she
said.
"This government has dedicated more resources than any previous Australian
government to border protection."
The issue of boat people has become a political hot potato following a fatal
explosion aboard a vessel 10 days ago, which killed five asylum seekers.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has suggested the government should consider
reinstating temporary protection visas (TPVs) as a way of deterring asylum seekers.
But Mr Robb wouldn't be drawn on whether the coalition would adopt that policy
itself if elected to government.
"The onus should be wholly and solely on Kevin Rudd as to what he will do now to
correct the fact that he has gone soft on people smugglers," the Victorian MP said.
"We went to the last election with a policy that worked. It didn't put lives at risk."
Mr Robb says he believes many more boats may be on the way to Australia.
There were "dozens of them in prospect", he said.
