The anti-mandatory detention campaign, which came from the Left, has a simple demand — that the country live up to its freely taken-on treaty obligations. Why have commentators like Robert Manne lost sight of that?
Chris Bowen
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Chris Bowen. Crikey’s Chris Bowen coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
A year on, what has changed in asylum-seeker policy?
We’ve gone nowhere on asylum seekers in the past 12 months and they continue to die trying to reach Australia.
Asylum seekers: finding a Political Solution
Crikey media wrap: The Gillard government appeared willing to negotiate its Malaysia Solution even before the latest boat tragedy but the Opposition refuses to compromise on its asylum seeker policy, according to private letters released yesterday.
Bowen wins ALP fight for offshore
processing
Chris Bowen has succeeded in his bid to change Labor’s national platform to allow for offshore processing of refugees after a rancour-filled debate, writes Andrew Crook.
UNHCR data reveals the shifting burden of asylum seekers
It’s easy to be misled by asylum claim figures. The global numbers don’t matter as much as where asylum seekers are coming from.
Malaysia Solution II: Gillard wins support
The ALP National Left has slammed Julia Gillard’s decision to allow immigration minister Chris Bowen carte blanche to decide the offshore processing fate of asylum seekers.
What Metcalfe said … or is understood to have said
Was the head of Immigration verballed by journalists about social unrest? Well, yes and no …
Metcalfe memo to staff: we have to operate in the real world
To follow is the three page memo sent to staff by the secretary of the Department of Immigration, Andrew Metcalfe, the day after the High Court decision…
High court battle fuels leadership speculation
Crikey media wrap: When the High Court struck down the government’s hyped Malaysia refugee plan this week, its decision started a media flurry about the government’s ability to rule — and Julia Gillard’s to lead.
podcast Canberra Calling: The Crikey solution to the non-solution podcast
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane and Crikey deputy editor Jason Whittaker discuss the High Court ruling against the Malaysian solution and what this means for the Gillard government.
Crikey Says: Headline-making stuff
A collection of what Michelle Grattan described as “the worst collection of front page pictures in recent memory.”
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Malaysian deal boosts Chris Bowen’s press
Chris Bowen put his sternest no exceptions face on, as the complexities of the asylum seeker issue continue to mount up.
Political snippets: Swan song should have different lyrics
When the Treasurer thinks it is reassuring to tell retirees not to panic by taking the dollars out of their super funds, we know that he must be getting jittery.
How can we tell if the Malaysian deal works?
It’s unclear whether the Malaysian deal will work and it has risks, but it is the least-worst solution currently available form the major parties.
Bitar to Crown: ‘from shooting crap inside Labor to casino craps’
Two former NSW Labor powerbrokers rubbish James Packer’s hiring of dumped ALP national secretary Karl Bitar as a Crown Casino lobbyist, suggesting the media scion might be better off dispatching his new charge back to the dole queue.
Our shrinking asylum seeker problem
While Australia’s asylum seeker numbers fall, Labor is ensuring it will always lose the debate by remaining wedded to mandatory detention.
Crikey Clarifier: government’s visa changes v TPVs
The government’s proposed changes to reintroduce temporary visas for certain asylum seekers is worse than Howard-era TPVs, according to Julian Burnside. Crikey intern Anokhee Shah reports.
Eltham: Mandatory detention is morally bankrupt
Our treatment of asylum seekers is akin to the totalitarian dictators that Australia normally stands against. Just because oppressing asylum seekers is popular with voters, doesn’t mean it’s right, declares Ben Eltham.
Convincing politicians to opt out of financial services reform
A low-profile campaign is underway to convince politicians to reverse a key financial services reform that will save Australians billions.
Get Shorten: the opposition’s only highlight
While the Opposition focused on targeting Bill Shorten, Labor appears to have decided there are diminishing returns in keeping a low profile on immigration.
Bowen’s Afghan memorandum: is it better for failed applicants?
Despite the rhetorical battle from both sides, there’s a question that needs to be asked — is it better to ensure people whose asylum applications have been rejected are sent home, instead of languishing in indefinite detention?
A win for asylum seekers: but how big?
Crikey Media Wrap: The High Court ruled yesterday that two Sri Lankan asylum seekers were denied “procedural fairness” by the Migration Act, as they were processed offshore. Will it end offshore processing or instead lengthen the time it takes to process claims?
Locals’ response to new detention centres — not in my backyard
The decision to hold 1900 people in Inverbrackie and Northam appears to have provoked only one response — not in my backyard.
Queue jumping in East Timor
While there’s been increased support in the top East Timor government ranks for a refugee processing centre to be built in the country, most of the population is against the plan. Shona Hawkes in Dili explains the complex problems.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Chris Bowen; not quite as popular as Mary MacKillop
The biggest mover of all was Chris Bowen, with the announcement on moving some families in detention into the community while they are being processed
