Turnbull reveals immigration policy

Malcolm Turnbull has risked another party room split - this time on immigration - by
declaring a coalition government would bring back temporary protection visas.
After weeks of silence amid the national debate on asylum seekers, Mr Turnbull on
Friday finally announced the opposition's immigration policy.
Of its four core principles, one flags a return to non-permanent protection visas -
a proposal that has been quickly rubbished by the federal government.
But even more telling, the move has angered some of Mr Turnbull's colleagues, who
are demanding the opposition leader explain his sudden openness on immigration
policy.
And they've warned he hasn't helped the cause on coalition unity, already strained
over the issue of climate change.
Several Liberal MPs have publicly criticised temporary protection visas (TPVs) in
the past, and warned against their re-introduction.
Victorian Liberal senator Judith Troeth said she was shocked to hear Mr Turnbull
announce the alternative policy on the radio.
"There's been no warning," she told AAP.
"It has not been to the party room, or indeed to the coalition backbench policy
committee through which new measures, not legislation, go through.
"I'd like to hear the reason why (it didn't)."
Senator Troeth, who crossed the floor to vote with Labor on border protection
legislation in September, condemned the return to TPVs or "safe haven" visas as
going "back to the future".
The safe-haven visas will force asylum seekers to be re-assessed after a certain
period - no longer than three years - after which they either will be granted
permanent residency or shipped home.
"We're reverting to this policy of treating people like non-human beings, putting
them under a great deal of pressure," she said.
Only three per cent of people who were granted TPVs as part of the former policy
ended up leaving the country, according to the government.
"The record for TPVs is clear, it's failed policy," Immigration Minister Chris Evans
told Sky News.
"It doesn't stop them coming and when they come, they stay."
Mr Turnbull's policy announcement comes as some of the 78 Sri Lankans aboard the
Oceanic Viking agreed to leave the Australian customs ship moored off Indonesia.
They are expected to enter a local detention centre after accepting the federal
government's generous offer of rapid resettlement.
The deal is the first breakthrough in a stand-off involving the group since the
asylum seekers were picked up in Indonesia's search and rescue zone more than three
weeks ago.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, speaking from India, and under continued fire over the
Oceanic Viking situation, ridiculed the opposition for its "four-dot" point plan.
"What stuns me is that after two years we don't get a policy, we get four dot points
of principle," he said, adding they were "nothing new".
Refugee advocates agree.
Marion Le, who has dealt with asylum seekers in Australia for more than 30 years,
said the coalition had proven it was stagnant on the issue.
TPVs were "an emotional and mental assault on people", by forcing them into a state
of uncertainty and insecurity over their future, Ms Le said.
Other Liberals have also indicated their displeasure with the announcement.
Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou, another staunch critic of TPVs, said he remained
"opposed to any return".
Asked to explain Mr Turnbull's turnaround, Senator Troeth suspected he had been
forced "to show a strong lead" following the stalemate aboard the Oceanic Viking.
But by signalling a return to temporary visas, Senator Troeth accused him of being
weak.
"This particular policy is an aberration to his normal style of strong leadership,"
she said.
"Mr Turnbull has shown great strength on climate change, and I would like him to
continue to show that strength."