Australia will now process all asylum seekers onshore, despite both the government and opposition supporting offshore processing for those that come by boat.
It’s an incredible win for those — mainly on the Left — who support onshore processing. Due to the limited room available in detention centres (and budgetary constraints) people arriving by boat would be processed quickly and given bridging visas to live in the community, which allow a small pension and the right to work.
National MP Tony Crook refused to support the government’s bill yesterday which would change the Migration Act to allow offshore processing, after the High Court deemed it unlawful. But even with Crook’s support, it’s unlikely the bill would have passed the Senate where the Greens hold the balance of power.
The opposition refused to support the bill as it would allow the government’s Malaysia Solution policy. Instead it demanded the government only send asylum seekers to countries which are a signee to the United Nations convention on refugees. The Labor caucus voted yesterday to keep the Malaysia Solution as official policy, even though it cannot implement it.
Gillard was quick to put the blame on opposition leader Tony Abbott and warn the public to expect more boats to arrive. “There is only one reason that we are not in the circumstances to have offshore processing and that’s because of Mr Abbott and his determination to trash the national interest,” said Gillard. “Mr Abbott’s conduct leads us to circumstances where we are at real risk of seeing more boats.”
The Sydney Morning Herald‘s Phillip Coorey is dubbing it the “Australia Solution”, noting: “The decision was announced last night after a day of crisis meetings which tested the authority of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, strained the backbench and took the shine off the policy victory of the day before when the carbon price legislation passed the lower house.”
Yes, it is confusing how we can have both major parties agree on offshore processing and yet not get support for it. “So many aspects of this sorry story fall into the stupid category, it is worthy of a chapter in a political primer on how not to do things,” declares Dennis Atkins in The Courier-Mail.
This is a great day for people smugglers and both parties are responsible, says Greg Sheridan in The Australian:
“It is a defeat in which the Gillard government and the Abbott opposition share equally.”
Labor has no one to blame for this but themselves, says human rights lecturer Angus Francis in The Age:
“The choice that confronted the Labor Party after the election defeat of 2001 was the same that confronts it now: continue to support offshore processing, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard wants, or begin the slow and painstaking process of rebuilding a principled asylum-seeker policy.”
Peter van Onselen is elated that onshore processing is happening, even if it’s only happened because of Gillard and Abbott’s stubbornness. Problem is, detention centres will quickly fill up and other onshore options should be examined, he writes in The Australian:
“Why not simply speed up the processing for all asylum-seekers? Or start community living for those already in detention? Or make arrangements for more processing centres? Again, stubbornness is getting in the way of workable policy outcomes.”
Susie O’Brien in the Herald Sun also supports this change to onshore processing:
“We can well afford to be generous, and to care for those who seek asylum on our shores. Given that most of them are found to be legitimate refugees, and go on to be well-respected members of our society, let’s give them a go.”
39 thoughts on “Govt flips and supports onshore
processing”
Andrew McIntosh
October 14, 2011 at 9:27 amThis could well become the dictionary definition of the word “irony”.
CHRISTOPHER DUNNE
October 14, 2011 at 9:35 amThe Left does a Steven Bradbury as all the other political players trip over themselves.
GOLD!!!
TheTruthHurts
October 14, 2011 at 9:48 amThe left, the Greens, Labor and it’s hacks need to take responsibility for every drowning, every riot and every dollar spent on this boatpeople mess of their making.
They can no longer keep blaming others. This is now your ball in your court. The left MUST take responsibility.
paddy
October 14, 2011 at 10:01 amLOL Love the Steven Bradbury line Christopher D.
Such a spectacular slapstick happy ending. 😀
GocomSys
October 14, 2011 at 10:37 amI really don’t give a damn what the press armchair critics have to say.
I really don’t give a toss what some of the usual obnoxious simple minded posters have to say.
Let’s give credit to any government trying to get complex issues resolved. It is not easy to do and often compromises have to be made.
Let’s condemn any political parties devoid of policies of their own who for purely political expediency are risking damaging Australia’s economy and reputation. In other words expose and get rid of “dumb” self serving politicians.
Let’s expose and condemn the trash media and the profiteers who’s ONLY aim is to improve their financial bottom line.
Two good outcomes:
1. The implementation of an infrastructure and pricing mechanism to put a price on pollution. Finally!
2. The hope of a better more humane way to process asylum seekers.
Finally!
SBH
October 14, 2011 at 10:44 amWhat a funny week, the will of the majority of the Australian people manifest not once but twice. Now if we can just fall over our feet and become a republic.
TheTruthHurts
October 14, 2011 at 10:46 am[“Let’s give credit to any government trying to get complex issues resolved. It is not easy to do and often compromises have to be made.”]
You must take responsibilities for drownings and deaths.
If the lefties want to play in the big boys world, you have to take adult responsibilities that come with it. No more shirting off blame as everyone but your responsibility.
mark longhurst
October 14, 2011 at 10:46 amGocomsys-, there is no credit due,the only party to condemn is Juilas, she could have used the Nauru option six months ago -kept alive offshore processing while looking for other solutions to her stinky Malaysia deal -all the more pain to her for failing .wasting our time and money and having a deadhead as her immigration minister
oggy
October 14, 2011 at 10:47 amAhhhh TTH welcome back,the same old same old,considering you are wanting to keep the borders safe, why Nauru over Malaysia and please dont bore me with your insincere concern for children’s safety in Malaysia.The Nauru solution was shown to be cruel with many inmates suffering severe mental health problems,where was your care for children then.
For the rightwing wingnuts the borders would have been safe but you let the chance slip for the sake of playing the Asylum Seeker Game for political gain.
It will be interesting to see if the AFP and Indons can successfully stop smuggling through intel and other devices.
The conservatives have had their chance to stop the boats and did not take that chance,tough luck, onshore here we go,s…ck it up princess.
SBH
October 14, 2011 at 10:57 amTruthie, did you start warning about drownings before or after Abbott and the ALP did? I haven’t bothered to go back over your posts but my recollection is you only raised this recently. Previously, showing not a shred of compassion or sympathy for people you derided as ‘boaties’ you had banged on about non-existent queues, or why we weren’t taking 10 million Somalian refugees or how ‘boaties’ were really rich terrorists in disguise.
But, hey, whatever – you lost – decency won – suck it up.