PM attacks Turnbull over asylum seekers

Kevin Rudd has accused Malcolm Turnbull of pitching to the political right on the
asylum seeker issue in an attempt to salvage his troubled leadership.
But while vowing to be "unapologetic" for the federal government's approach to
people smuggling, the prime minister distanced himself from a decision to send a
vessel carrying 78 asylum seekers to an Indonesia detention centre that is accused
of mistreating detainees.

In question time on Monday, Mr Rudd sharpened his attack on the opposition leader
and his struggling immigration spokeswoman, Sharman Stone, charging them with
deserting long-held moderate views for the sake of their jobs.
Mr Rudd taunted Mr Turnbull about what had happened to his former alignment with the
moderate side of Liberal politics.
"(Is) the Liberal Party deciding to play the asylum seeker card because they see it
is full of good politics for them," he asked in parliament.
"Whatever happened to the member for Wentworth campaigning on the
Liberal-progressive side of the party? Gone. Gone. Gone.
"He is now seeking to pitch his message to the right wing of the party, where he
hopes to save his leadership."
Mr Rudd also took aim at Dr Stone, a known moderate, whose handling of her portfolio
has come in for questioning.
During a rhetorical spray at Dr Stone, Mr Rudd directed his questions at Liberal
backbencher Petro Georgiou, who has criticised current coalition handling of the
issue within the joint party room.
"She has been such a consistent participant in this debate, has she not, member for
Kooyong?" Mr Rudd asked.
"She has been so consistent in her principles on this matter, hasn't she, member for
Kooyong?"
The future of Mr Turnbull's leadership could hang on two by-elections in the seats
of Higgins and Bradfield, to be held on December 5.
Any loss in the Liberal vote could put further pressure on Mr Turnbull's hold on the
opposition leaders' job, which is already being severely tested by the climate
change debate.
Mr Rudd might mock Mr Turnbull but the asylum seeker debate isn't going all that
smoothly for the federal government.
It continues to face pressure about the conditions facing asylum seekers who are
being processed in Indonesia following agreement between Canberra and Jakarta.
After eight days aboard the Australian customs vessel Oceanic Viking, 78 asylum
seekers were poised to arrive in the Indonesian port of Tanjung Pinang, where
authorities plan to detain them.
In the face of criticism for Canberra's adoption of a so-called "Indonesian
solution", Mr Rudd argued the settlement and processing of asylum seekers in
Indonesia was aimed at preventing tragedy on the high seas.
Arguing a new line of defence in the policy debate, Mr Rudd said the government's
approach was "unapologetically" tough but humane.
"Our policy ... is unapologetically tough when it comes to people smugglers and
unapologetically humane when it comes to asylum seekers," he said.
"We the government make no apologies for this regional approach.
"The truth is people impacted by such policies will not support it, it will not be
praised by all Australians, it is not praised by all Australians."
While unapologetic for the approach, Mr Rudd refused to take ownership for any
decisions about where the asylum seekers were sent.
"Those are matters which have obviously occurred in the government, but by which
agencies within the government and by which officers, I am unaware," he said.
"I myself had no engagement," Mr Rudd later added.