By Rich Bowden:
Deputy PM Julia Gillard. Credit: Adam Carr
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has defended her Government’s policy on asylum seekers in the face of mounting election-year attacks from the federal Opposition.
Ms Gillard was speaking following Sunday’s interception of the latest boat containing 30 refugees, which had attempted to reach Australia’s shores.
The boat was intercepted at Adele Island, some 100 kilometres off the West Australian coast, reported the ABC.
“We have a tough border protection policy – a tough policy because that’s the right thing to do in Australia’s national interest,” the deputy prime minister said to reporters rejecting claims from the Opposition that Australia’s border protection policy was too soft.
“We process asylum seeker claims and we deal with the individuals involved properly.”
Gillard was responding to suggestions from the Opposition that its policy was failing.
“At this rate, of two boats arriving every week, we will see over 100 boats arrive in 2010 and more than 500 people,” said the Opposition’s Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison on Sunday in response to news of the arrival.
Earlier West Australian Premier Colin Barnett had called the latest interception of asylum seekers “very close” to the state’s shores and also called on the Federal Government to toughen its stance on refugees arriving by boat.
“That is getting very close to the Australian mainland, which of course, apart from the people themselves, there is obviously quarantine issues and health issues that can arise if people actually get onto the mainland,” he said.
Gillard told reporters yesterday the increase in the number of conflicts in Asia was responsible for the added asylum seekers and said the capacity of Christmas Island was being expanded to “…meet anticipated needs.”
Share on Facebook
