Turnbull turns to Howard in govt attack

Malcolm Turnbull has invoked a theme that helped former prime minister John Howard
win the 2001 election, telling parliament Australians should decide "who comes to
this country".
As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was preparing to hold talks with Indonesian's Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono on a new strategy for dealing with asylum seekers, the opposition
leader continued his attack on the government's border protection regime.
The opposition maintains a softening in border protection policies under the Rudd
government is to blame for the recent surge in asylum seekers heading for Australia.
Mr Turnbull on Tuesday said Australians expected a tougher response from the
government in terms of border protection.
"It should not ever be controversial to state as a matter of policy and principle
that Australians have the right to decide who comes to this country - our country -
and the manner in which they come," he said.
"The previous prime minister, Mr Howard, was criticised for saying that, but the
fact is, that is what every Australian expects of their government."
The comments come as the fate of 78 asylum seekers intercepted in Indonesian waters,
but now aboard an Australian Customs vessel, remained in limbo on Tuesday night
ahead of talks between Mr Rudd and the Indonesian president.
The government has refused to confirm whether a deal had been struck with Indonesia
about where the asylum seekers should go.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the government would follow the letter of
the law in dealing with matter.
"We will act in a way entirely consistent with out legal obligations," Ms Gillard
told parliament.
"We will follow the letter of the law."
But Ms Gillard has made it clear it is the government's preference for the group to
be dealt with by Indonesia, having said their vessel was in Indonesia's area of
responsibility when intercepted.
The group, which includes at least five women and five young children, was
transferred to the Oceanic Viking after sending out a distress call in the
Indonesian search and rescue zone.
Opposition immigration spokeswoman Sharman Stone said the group should be processed
in Indonesia and not taken to Christmas Island.
"Do they pander to the interests of the smugglers and bring these people down to
Christmas Island, or do they say, 'look Indonesia, you're closest, we've given you a
lot of money to lock these people up, you go look after them'?"
The Greens are pleading for the 78 suspected asylum seekers aboard the Oceanic
Viking to be allowed to land in Australia.
"It's not a good look for Australia, and it's not the right thing morally or in the
light of humanity," Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
Late on Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor
told AAP the Oceanic Viking remained in the vicinity of where the asylum seekers
were picked up, about 120 nautical miles south of Sumatra.
One female asylum seeker now aboard the Oceanic Viking has been confirmed as
suffering from fever and her condition was being monitored.
Mr Rudd is expected to meet with President Yudhoyono later on Tuesday evening to
discuss a new strategy for dealing with asylum seekers and people smugglers.
The prime minister was expected to offer Indonesia more financial assistance, on top
of the $20 million it already provides.
Mr Rudd will also hold talks with leaders from Malaysia, a gateway for asylum
seekers, as well as Singapore and Brunei.
The talks come as a boat intercepted by the Indonesian navy on its way to Australia
remains moored in a port in western Java. The 255 Tamil asylum seekers aboard are
refusing to leave the vessel.