Rudd Government's decision to end the offshore detention of asylum seekers

[Tina Greco - Melbourne]

No opposition to Pacific Solution's end

February 24, 2008 09:50am
Article from: AAP



IN another reversal of the policies of the Howard era, the Federal Opposition says it is prepared to "wear" the Rudd Government's decision to end the offshore detention of asylum seekers.

Labor has moved to end the controversial Pacific solution by closing Australia's detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.

The last remaining refugees on Nauru have now been allowed to settle in Australia.

Opposition justice spokesman Christopher Pyne said today the Coalition did not oppose the closure of the offshore detention facilities but warned Labor this must not lead to a new wave of boat arrivals.

He also called on the Government not to reverse the excision of thousands of islands from the migration zone, which prevents boat people who land on those islands from accessing Australian law and claiming asylum in Australia.

"The closing of Nauru and Manus Island, because there are no longer people in those stations, is a decision that the government has made," Mr Pyne said on Channel 10.

"The Opposition is prepared to wear that, but not if it starts to lead to a watering down of the very tough border protection policies that we've run for the last few years, specifically the excision of parts of Australia from the area from which unauthorised arrivals can claim to be onshore, that would definitely be a bridge too far if Labor moves in that direction.

"We haven't opposed what the Government has done, as long as it doesn't lead to a watering down which sends the wrong messages to people smugglers that Australia's open for business again."

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the Government was considering how it could alleviate the economic impact on Nauru caused by the closure of the detention camp.

"We're currently giving consideration to what form of development assistance might be appropriate to compensate for the loss of income," Mr Smith said on Channel 9.

"We've already sent some AusAID officers to Nauru and we'll be having some conversations with the Nauru government about the sorts of development assistance that will be appropriate, given they are losing income as a consequence."