The Labor Party appears to be stringing out debate on a number of relatively non-consequential bills in the House of Representatives this morning to avoid a vote on its controversial Malaysia refugee swap legislation.
Overnight, a report in the West Australian by crack parliamentary reporter Andrew Probyn – missed by all the other dailies — revealed WA Nationals crossbencher Tony Crook would slap down the government’s so-called “Malaysia Solution”, due to his concern that refugees would suffer at the hands of Malaysian authorities.
Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention.
The yarn prompted an emergency meeting of Cabinet just after 8:30am that’s believed to have closely discussed the political fallout if a sitting government lost its first lower house vote in 80 years. Its final defeat was certain anyway with the bill to be nixed in the Senate with the help of the Greens.
On the House of Representatives Daily Program, the Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill is listed at number 4 in the running order behind the Work Health and Safety Bill and the Social Security Amendment Bill.
This morning’s debate, mostly before a near empty chamber, featured riveting discussions on a safety bill for firefighters, a national standard for fertiliser products, Coptic Christians in Egypt and the AQIS export service rebate. Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten droned on for a number of precious minutes on proposed PAYG non-compliance withholding laws.
At one point Labor backbencher Amanda Rishworth’s speech on the OH&S bill detoured into an (admittedly horrific) anecdote about a hot oil incident at Hungry Jacks.
Earlier, Tony Crook outlined the reasons for his rejection of the people swap solution – struck down by the High Court — in which 800 asylum seekers who arrived via boat would be exchanged for 4,000 refugees from camps in Malaysia.
“I’m disappointed that it’s come to this and the government and opposition have not been able to sort out a position on this.”
“Both sides are so close yet so far and it’s a shame that politics has got in front of compromise.”
He detailed the exchange when he informed Julia Gillard of his decision to back Tony Abbott’s amendments.
“The Prime Minister was disappointed but the Prime Minister is a pretty cool customer, she will move on from this. Obviously Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott were pleased with my decision, where we go to here from this is up to the Government and Opposition,’’ he said.
The House next meets on Monday October 31.
49 thoughts on “Crook sinks House of Reps vote on Malaysia deal”
Suzanne Blake
October 13, 2011 at 2:59 pmDebate just started on Labor Asylum Bill and Gillard walked out of Parliament.
What is she up to now
They have called an emergency Caucus meeting for 4.15pm. Spill?
shepherdmarilyn
October 13, 2011 at 3:07 pmWhat is the point, it is illegal.
davidk
October 13, 2011 at 3:14 pmIt’s not been almost a year and a half since she announced the East Timor Solution. It took Howard 2 WEEKS to have the Nauru Solution ready to roll after the Tampa invasion into our waters.
This says it all about the way the Right misrepresents this issue for its own cynical political advantage, just as Howard embraced the racist policies of One Nation and damaged vulnerable people who were seeking our protection by claiming a measly few people was an invasion.
TheTruthHurts
October 13, 2011 at 3:26 pmGillard delaying with a rant about Rugby Union and a stuffed toy.
Gutless Gillard is scared of the vote.
Suzanne Blake
October 13, 2011 at 3:32 pm@ TheTruthHurts
The stuffed toy looked good.
TheTruthHurts
October 13, 2011 at 3:34 pm[“The stuffed toy looked good.”]
Which one?
Suzanne Blake
October 13, 2011 at 3:37 pm@ TheTruthHurts
Of the two stuffed toys with recycled material inside, I was referring to the little one with the yellow clothes. Sorry for the confusion
geomac
October 13, 2011 at 3:40 pmNauru would operate or facilitate any processing centre as long as money is forthcoming. You could propose a concentration camp and as long as the money was right they would agree. A vote for hunting whales or laundering money Nauru is the place. Nauru house in Melbourne gone along with its other property investments. I live in Morwell Vic. and its population is 6 to 8 thousand more than Nauru which has about 10 thousand. Any buildings in Nauru once used for processing would have to built again from scratch and anything worth taking has been taken. If I was a local I would take it too instead of letting it just sit there.
No one seems to have mentioned the 4000 who were to come here as part of the swap. What happens to them ? I thought parts of the Malaysian deal had merit although I don,t understand the full implications of it. Do assessed refugees sent to Malaysia get to come to Australia or left in Malaysia ? What happens to those rejected as refugees ?
Nauru is no longer a deterrent as over or about 70% found placement in Oz or NZ.
geomac
October 13, 2011 at 3:44 pm3.26 TTH 3.32 SB 3.34 TTH 3.37 SB Its tiresome logging out and logging in isn,t it ?
Suzanne Blake
October 13, 2011 at 3:56 pm@ Geomac
I am just plain old me. Don’t have a second subscription. Sorry to disappoint you.