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| Julia Gillard working on 'regional solution' to slow asylum boats | Julia Gillard working on 'regional solution' to slow asylum boats |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Julia Gillard is considering a last-ditch attempt to implement a new "regional solution" to slow the arrival of asylum seeker boats, as backbenchers warn the issue is "killing" Labor electorally and Tony Abbott puts it at the centre of his political attack. | Julia Gillard is considering a last-ditch attempt to implement a new "regional solution" to slow the arrival of asylum seeker boats, as backbenchers warn the issue is "killing" Labor electorally and Tony Abbott puts it at the centre of his political attack. |
| With polls showing Labor's primary vote has slumped to just 29% and Gillard facing serious internal questioning of her leadership, the government is working on a package of measures to implement the regional approach that its expert panel said was essential to solve a problem that could not be addressed by domestic policies alone. | With polls showing Labor's primary vote has slumped to just 29% and Gillard facing serious internal questioning of her leadership, the government is working on a package of measures to implement the regional approach that its expert panel said was essential to solve a problem that could not be addressed by domestic policies alone. |
| Gillard will discuss the issue with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the third annual bilateral leaders' talks on 5 July and the government's special envoy on asylum seekers, former defence force chief and former chair of the expert panel, Angus Houston, has been engaged in talks around the region since March. | Gillard will discuss the issue with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the third annual bilateral leaders' talks on 5 July and the government's special envoy on asylum seekers, former defence force chief and former chair of the expert panel, Angus Houston, has been engaged in talks around the region since March. |
| The government had considered pressing opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow regulations through the parliament in the final sitting week that would add Malaysia to the countries to which Australia can legally send asylum seekers, but it is a proposition the Coalition has consistently opposed and the parliamentary agenda is already full. | The government had considered pressing opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow regulations through the parliament in the final sitting week that would add Malaysia to the countries to which Australia can legally send asylum seekers, but it is a proposition the Coalition has consistently opposed and the parliamentary agenda is already full. |
| Government sources said a package of new proposals to co-operate with Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries to stop the asylum seeker flow was now being discussed. | Government sources said a package of new proposals to co-operate with Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries to stop the asylum seeker flow was now being discussed. |
| Foreign affairs minister senator Bob Carr said on Thursday people smuggling would be a "big subject on the agenda" in the discussions with Yodhoyono. | Foreign affairs minister senator Bob Carr said on Thursday people smuggling would be a "big subject on the agenda" in the discussions with Yodhoyono. |
| "We believe working together we can do more," he said. | "We believe working together we can do more," he said. |
| Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison – anticipating the Jakarta talks – said the Coalition could support additional funding for processing arrangements in Indonesia. | Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison – anticipating the Jakarta talks – said the Coalition could support additional funding for processing arrangements in Indonesia. |
| "Now, if the prime minister is going to go and be able to announce for example that the government is going to give more support to accommodate people who are in Indonesia, well that would be a welcome outcome, and that would be something I would hope she would be able to achieve … But that of itself is not going to stop the boats." | "Now, if the prime minister is going to go and be able to announce for example that the government is going to give more support to accommodate people who are in Indonesia, well that would be a welcome outcome, and that would be something I would hope she would be able to achieve … But that of itself is not going to stop the boats." |
| But he told parliament the government was misunderstanding the reasons boats continued to arrive. | But he told parliament the government was misunderstanding the reasons boats continued to arrive. |
| "We are not faced with a regional crisis, we are faced with a people-smuggling crisis, something this government has failed to understand." | "We are not faced with a regional crisis, we are faced with a people-smuggling crisis, something this government has failed to understand." |
| He said regional processing centres created "magnets" for asylum seekers, while domestic policies of "deterrence" had been proven to work during the Howard government years. | He said regional processing centres created "magnets" for asylum seekers, while domestic policies of "deterrence" had been proven to work during the Howard government years. |
| Morrison left open the possibility of suspending or renegotiating Australia's commitment to the UN convention on refugees, when he told Sky News on Tuesday that the way it was "woven into" Australian law was "open for discussion". | Morrison left open the possibility of suspending or renegotiating Australia's commitment to the UN convention on refugees, when he told Sky News on Tuesday that the way it was "woven into" Australian law was "open for discussion". |
| Morrison said the previous Coalition government had "stopped the boats" while remaining a signatory to the convention, but asked whether the option was open to suspend or withdraw that commitment. "We have always kept open that option," he said. | Morrison said the previous Coalition government had "stopped the boats" while remaining a signatory to the convention, but asked whether the option was open to suspend or withdraw that commitment. "We have always kept open that option," he said. |
| Backbencher Laurie Ferguson, a staunch supporter of Gillard's leadership, recently made a public plea to the prime minister to re-engage in the asylum debate, which he said was "killing" Labor in western Sydney. | Backbencher Laurie Ferguson, a staunch supporter of Gillard's leadership, recently made a public plea to the prime minister to re-engage in the asylum debate, which he said was "killing" Labor in western Sydney. |
| ''[The public have] no perception of what is happening internationally, they've got no perception of what the government has actually been doing. But most importantly to me, they've got no perception that the Liberals have got no policy to solve this either," he said. | ''[The public have] no perception of what is happening internationally, they've got no perception of what the government has actually been doing. But most importantly to me, they've got no perception that the Liberals have got no policy to solve this either," he said. |
| The Coalition has also been pointing out that the Howard government's asylum policies were overturned under Kevin Rudd's prime ministership. | The Coalition has also been pointing out that the Howard government's asylum policies were overturned under Kevin Rudd's prime ministership. |
| Gillard unveiled the Malaysia Solution – to send 800 boat arrivals back to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 refugees from Malaysian camps – in May 2011. | Gillard unveiled the Malaysia Solution – to send 800 boat arrivals back to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 refugees from Malaysian camps – in May 2011. |
| But three months later the high court ruled it unlawful on the grounds that it contravened Australia's international obligations and Labor was unable to pass legislation to revive it – with the Coalition rejecting the idea on the grounds that Malaysia was not a signatory to the UN convention and the Greens for the same reason and also because the move was linked to offshore processing. | But three months later the high court ruled it unlawful on the grounds that it contravened Australia's international obligations and Labor was unable to pass legislation to revive it – with the Coalition rejecting the idea on the grounds that Malaysia was not a signatory to the UN convention and the Greens for the same reason and also because the move was linked to offshore processing. |
| At the time senior immigration officials said the Malaysia deal would send the same powerful signal as the Coalition's policy of towing back boats, but without the danger and practical difficulties. | At the time senior immigration officials said the Malaysia deal would send the same powerful signal as the Coalition's policy of towing back boats, but without the danger and practical difficulties. |
| Labor set up an "expert panel" to try to break the impasse, which recommended a revival of the "Malaysia Solution" only after the government held more talks with Malaysia about human rights concerns, as well as a resumption of the Howard government's system of offshore processing and an increase in the humanitarian program. | Labor set up an "expert panel" to try to break the impasse, which recommended a revival of the "Malaysia Solution" only after the government held more talks with Malaysia about human rights concerns, as well as a resumption of the Howard government's system of offshore processing and an increase in the humanitarian program. |
| Government sources said some talks have now been held, but Malaysia wanted an assurance of bipartisanship before it made changes to domestic procedures. | Government sources said some talks have now been held, but Malaysia wanted an assurance of bipartisanship before it made changes to domestic procedures. |
| The Coalition has intensified its attempts to link asylum seekers arriving by boat with threats to national security, despite the recent revelation that an Egyptian asylum seeker said to be a "convicted murderer" and "terrorist" kept in low-security detention "behind a pool fence" had never been convicted of most of the alleged crimes. | The Coalition has intensified its attempts to link asylum seekers arriving by boat with threats to national security, despite the recent revelation that an Egyptian asylum seeker said to be a "convicted murderer" and "terrorist" kept in low-security detention "behind a pool fence" had never been convicted of most of the alleged crimes. |
| Last weekend it unveiled its "send foreign criminals home" policy, promising to cancel rights of appeal for non citizens convicted of a crime carrying a sentence of one year or more. | Last weekend it unveiled its "send foreign criminals home" policy, promising to cancel rights of appeal for non citizens convicted of a crime carrying a sentence of one year or more. |
| But it has also come under pressure to explain how it will keep its promise to "stop the boats" through its policy of sending asylum seeker boats back to Indonesia. | But it has also come under pressure to explain how it will keep its promise to "stop the boats" through its policy of sending asylum seeker boats back to Indonesia. |
| The Indonesian vice-president Boediono said recently Indonesia would not accept turned back boats and Indonesian ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema has made the same point. | The Indonesian vice-president Boediono said recently Indonesia would not accept turned back boats and Indonesian ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema has made the same point. |
| Labor and the Coalition have now passed legislation to restart offshore processing on Manus Island and Nauru and to excise Australia's mainland from its migration zone so boat arrivals making it to Australian shores can also be processed offshore. But even after these changes the rate of boat arrivals has increased. More than 17,000 asylum seekers have arrived by boat this year. | Labor and the Coalition have now passed legislation to restart offshore processing on Manus Island and Nauru and to excise Australia's mainland from its migration zone so boat arrivals making it to Australian shores can also be processed offshore. But even after these changes the rate of boat arrivals has increased. More than 17,000 asylum seekers have arrived by boat this year. |
| At the time the expert panel report was released Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison claimed the report had "red-lighted" the Malaysia deal. | At the time the expert panel report was released Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison claimed the report had "red-lighted" the Malaysia deal. |
| Houston, who chaired the panel, said at the time "Malaysia is a very good arrangement that needs further work. It provides perhaps the best platform to move into the future." | Houston, who chaired the panel, said at the time "Malaysia is a very good arrangement that needs further work. It provides perhaps the best platform to move into the future." |
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