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Peter Dutton hits back at New York Times attack on 'inhumane' boats policy Peter Dutton hits back at New York Times attack on 'inhumane' boats policy
(about 17 hours later)
Immigration minister Peter Dutton has hit back at a New York Times’ critique of Australia’s “inhumane” boats policy by calling the government’s actions lawful and effective.Immigration minister Peter Dutton has hit back at a New York Times’ critique of Australia’s “inhumane” boats policy by calling the government’s actions lawful and effective.
As Europe’s worst refugee crisis since 1945 brought the issue into global focus, Dutton launched a detailed rebuttal of the influential American newspaper’s blistering assessment of the Coalition’s “stop the boats” policy, saying that it “saved lives”.As Europe’s worst refugee crisis since 1945 brought the issue into global focus, Dutton launched a detailed rebuttal of the influential American newspaper’s blistering assessment of the Coalition’s “stop the boats” policy, saying that it “saved lives”.
Related: The Journey: A refugee's odyssey from Syria to SwedenRelated: The Journey: A refugee's odyssey from Syria to Sweden
The New York Times said the Tony Abbott’s government had been “ruthlessly effective” in preventing refugees from reaching Australia but it had harmed the country’s reputtion. The New York Times said Tony Abbott’s government had been “ruthlessly effective” in preventing refugees from reaching Australia but it had harmed the country’s reputtion.
“His policies have been inhumane, of dubious legality and strikingly at odds with the country’s tradition of welcoming people fleeing persecution and war,” the Times said.“His policies have been inhumane, of dubious legality and strikingly at odds with the country’s tradition of welcoming people fleeing persecution and war,” the Times said.
But Dutton, days after accusing Australian media of trying to bring down the government, defended the Coalition’s actions.But Dutton, days after accusing Australian media of trying to bring down the government, defended the Coalition’s actions.
“As soon as we were elected the Coalition government implemented strong policies to put the people smugglers out of business and end the deaths at sea,” he said in a statement. “Our policies are lawful. They are safe. And they work.“As soon as we were elected the Coalition government implemented strong policies to put the people smugglers out of business and end the deaths at sea,” he said in a statement. “Our policies are lawful. They are safe. And they work.
“They save lives. They reduce the risks run by our border protection personnel. And they have stopped the evil people smuggling trade to Australia.“They save lives. They reduce the risks run by our border protection personnel. And they have stopped the evil people smuggling trade to Australia.
“Together, turning back boats where it is safe to do so, offshore processing and temporary protection visas have restored integrity to Australia’s borders and our humanitarian migration programmes.”“Together, turning back boats where it is safe to do so, offshore processing and temporary protection visas have restored integrity to Australia’s borders and our humanitarian migration programmes.”
The statement did not mention the Times’ editorial but it contained a swipe at “opponents of these policies”.The statement did not mention the Times’ editorial but it contained a swipe at “opponents of these policies”.
“Appropriate inquiry and research of the facts about these policies would show that the often vague, untested and unsubstantiated claims by opponents of these policies are lacking in credibility,” it said.“Appropriate inquiry and research of the facts about these policies would show that the often vague, untested and unsubstantiated claims by opponents of these policies are lacking in credibility,” it said.
It also rejected the Times’s analysis that Australia had damaged its international image.It also rejected the Times’s analysis that Australia had damaged its international image.
“Australia has a long, proud tradition of taking in victims of persecution. The Australian people support a generous, orderly humanitarian resettlement of refugees in greatest need around the world.“Australia has a long, proud tradition of taking in victims of persecution. The Australian people support a generous, orderly humanitarian resettlement of refugees in greatest need around the world.
“Last year Australia resettled 13,500 people under refugee and humanitarian programmes. On a per capita basis we are the most generous refugee resettlement nation in the world.”“Last year Australia resettled 13,500 people under refugee and humanitarian programmes. On a per capita basis we are the most generous refugee resettlement nation in the world.”