Fed: Govt hypocritical for gagging debate on immigration: Labor

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2006
Fed: Govt hypocritical for gagging debate on immigration: Labor

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Labor has labelled the government hypocritical for gagging debate
on changes to Australia's migration laws but spending weeks negotiating the deal with
Indonesia.

The government will force the House of Representatives to vote today on the changes
which would force illegal refugees arriving by boat into offshore processing centres.

"This government spent weeks and weeks consulting with Indonesia, making sure every
Indonesian argument was heard and the prime minister can't put up with Australian members
of parliament talking for more than a day," Opposition immigration spokesman Tony Burke
said.

The changes came about after a group of Papuan refugees were granted asylum in Australia
when they reached Cape York, in far north Queensland this year.

A diplomatic rift between Australia and Indonesia opened after asylum was granted.

"It's typical of the fact the government knows these laws are weak, knows these laws
are an appeasement of another country and doesn't want the argument to be told, doesn't
want the story on the record," Mr Burke said.

Liberal Judith Troeth is one of the government members opposing the bill, but Mr Burke
said he was not sure which way she would vote.

"I am not able to give a punt on what the odds are of people voting different ways," he said.

"I'm still astonished that this bill has come before us in the first place."

AAP pv/sb/grc/nf

KEYWORD: MIGRATION BURKE

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