ID :
206402
Sat, 09/10/2011 - 15:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206402
The shortlink copeid
Asylum seeker policy stand-off continues
SYDNEY (AAP)-10.09.2011-The federal government is trying to find a "legal excuse" to refloat its controversial Malaysian solution for asylum seekers who arrive by boat, the opposition says.
Government frontbenchers have not ruled out speculation that Prime Minister Julia Gillard will seek caucus approval for legislation overriding last month's High Court ruling that ended the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Malaysia.
While not confirming the reports, Attorney-General Robert McClelland said on Friday he believed Australia's Migration Act could be amended to allow offshore processing, and Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday the government would have to "reflect" on its Malaysian solution.
Mr Bowen told reporters in Sydney the government hadn't ruled anything out ahead of cabinet's discussions on the issue on Monday.
He said he hoped the opposition was prepared to keep all options on the table.
But immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the coalition continued to have extremely "strong reservations" about any return to the Malaysian solution.
"What the government is trying to do is seek a legal excuse to put in place a bad policy," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
"The coalition was opposed to the Malaysia solution before the High Court decision for very sound reasons and we continue those very, very strong reservations today."
Mr Bowen wouldn't say if the government's new plans to handle the issue incorporate Malaysia.
"We have had to reflect on (the Malaysian arrangement) and reflect on our response and we are well advanced in doing that," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Our consideration of the entire matter, of the regional framework and how to deal with asylum seekers, is well advanced and we will be saying more in coming days.
"I don't preempt what I'll be recommending to cabinet ... the first people to know what I recommend to cabinet will be cabinet," he said.
Mr Bowen all but ruled out processing asylum seekers on Nauru, the opposition's preferred option, and said it would be an expensive option.
"We know that Nauru won't work and now we know it's expensive as well," he said.
"The coalition's Nauru plan would cost the taxpayer around $1 billion in operational costs alone."
Mr Morrison questioned the government's figures, saying Mr Bowen had failed to outline any details.
"I don't accept the minister's back-of-the-envelope accusations today in terms of costings at all," he said.
When asked if there was any way of ending the stand-off between the two parties if the coalition is opposed to the Malaysia-swap deal and Labor is opposed to Nauru, Mr Morrison said: "The coalition is calling on the government to introduce a bill to the parliament this week and to do so as soon as possible."
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said there would be "intense" debate about the issue of offshore processing in cabinet.
"Clearly there will be intense discussion and indeed debate about the matter," he told the ABC.
The government's attempts to head off the issue coincide with the arrival on Christmas Island on Saturday of a boat carrying 72 passengers and two crew, which was intercepted near the island on Friday.
Government frontbenchers have not ruled out speculation that Prime Minister Julia Gillard will seek caucus approval for legislation overriding last month's High Court ruling that ended the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Malaysia.
While not confirming the reports, Attorney-General Robert McClelland said on Friday he believed Australia's Migration Act could be amended to allow offshore processing, and Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said on Saturday the government would have to "reflect" on its Malaysian solution.
Mr Bowen told reporters in Sydney the government hadn't ruled anything out ahead of cabinet's discussions on the issue on Monday.
He said he hoped the opposition was prepared to keep all options on the table.
But immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the coalition continued to have extremely "strong reservations" about any return to the Malaysian solution.
"What the government is trying to do is seek a legal excuse to put in place a bad policy," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
"The coalition was opposed to the Malaysia solution before the High Court decision for very sound reasons and we continue those very, very strong reservations today."
Mr Bowen wouldn't say if the government's new plans to handle the issue incorporate Malaysia.
"We have had to reflect on (the Malaysian arrangement) and reflect on our response and we are well advanced in doing that," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Our consideration of the entire matter, of the regional framework and how to deal with asylum seekers, is well advanced and we will be saying more in coming days.
"I don't preempt what I'll be recommending to cabinet ... the first people to know what I recommend to cabinet will be cabinet," he said.
Mr Bowen all but ruled out processing asylum seekers on Nauru, the opposition's preferred option, and said it would be an expensive option.
"We know that Nauru won't work and now we know it's expensive as well," he said.
"The coalition's Nauru plan would cost the taxpayer around $1 billion in operational costs alone."
Mr Morrison questioned the government's figures, saying Mr Bowen had failed to outline any details.
"I don't accept the minister's back-of-the-envelope accusations today in terms of costings at all," he said.
When asked if there was any way of ending the stand-off between the two parties if the coalition is opposed to the Malaysia-swap deal and Labor is opposed to Nauru, Mr Morrison said: "The coalition is calling on the government to introduce a bill to the parliament this week and to do so as soon as possible."
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said there would be "intense" debate about the issue of offshore processing in cabinet.
"Clearly there will be intense discussion and indeed debate about the matter," he told the ABC.
The government's attempts to head off the issue coincide with the arrival on Christmas Island on Saturday of a boat carrying 72 passengers and two crew, which was intercepted near the island on Friday.
