Australia plans to deport asylum seekers to detention camps in the poorer nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru. The proposal is a U-turn for the ruling Labour party, which previously argued that Australian-funded detention camps were a waste of money that would fail to deter new arrivals. But in the face of 'too many lives being lost' in rickety boats, prime minister Julia Gillard said her government has accepted recommendations to reopen camps established ten years ago by a conservative administration. Laws to enable the deportation of asylum seekers will also be introduced to parliament. 'When our nation looks at what is happening at sea as people attempt dangerous journeys to Australia, too many lives have been lost and I'm not going to play politics or look at political scoreboards when too many lives have been lost,' said Ms Gillard after the cabinet backed all the recommendations in the expert panel's report. Source: The Coming Crisis
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Australia plans to deport asylum seekers to overseas detention camps
Australia plans to deport asylum seekers to detention camps in the poorer nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru. The proposal is a U-turn for the ruling Labour party, which previously argued that Australian-funded detention camps were a waste of money that would fail to deter new arrivals. But in the face of 'too many lives being lost' in rickety boats, prime minister Julia Gillard said her government has accepted recommendations to reopen camps established ten years ago by a conservative administration. Laws to enable the deportation of asylum seekers will also be introduced to parliament. 'When our nation looks at what is happening at sea as people attempt dangerous journeys to Australia, too many lives have been lost and I'm not going to play politics or look at political scoreboards when too many lives have been lost,' said Ms Gillard after the cabinet backed all the recommendations in the expert panel's report. Source: The Coming Crisis