coalition to block refugee fix

Paul Maley From: The Australian November 15, 2010 7:09AM 20 commentsIncrease Text SizeDecrease Text SizePrintEmail Share
Add to DiggAdd to del.icio.usAdd to FacebookAdd to KwoffAdd to MyspaceAdd to NewsvineWhat are these? NOT ENOUGH: HARD LINE: Opposition spokesman for immigration Scott Morrison says the government must produce a "broader" response to last week's ruling if it expects Coalition support. Picture: Kym Smith Source: Supplied
LABOR'S hopes of countering last week's High Court decision granting asylum-seekers greater appeal rights looks doomed.
The Coalition is almost certain to oppose any legislation proposed by the Gillard government.

In a political strategy identical to the one adopted by the Greens on the emissions trading scheme, the Coalition is gearing up to block any legislative fixes introduced into the lower house on the grounds they won't go far enough.

Opposition spokesman for immigration Scott Morrison said the government must produce a "broader" response to last week's ruling if it expected Coalition support.

"The government's response needs to go the full distance on policy," Mr Morrison told The Australian. "To deal with the principal problem, which is the dismantling of the regime they inherited, we want to see that regime and its improvements restored. If it's not prepared to go the full distance then they cannot assume our support."

But the government is sure to reject the conditions the Coalition will insist on -- the reintroduction of temporary protection visas and the introduction of third-country refugee processing. Labor abolished TPVs immediately after gaining office in 2007.

In a unanimous judgment, the High Court last week ruled that two asylum-seekers had been denied procedural fairness in the processing of their unsuccessful refugee claims.

The decision means failed asylum-seekers can now mount legal challenges around procedural aspects of their case, although not the substance of them.

The decision represents a major expansion in the rights of boatpeople, who until last week had no access to judicial review.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has made it clear the government sees fresh legislation as one of the options available.

"I'll be talking to my cabinet colleagues about all the options, making recommendations to them about the appropriate way of ensuring that the system is robust, that it minimise the opportunity for gaming, but that people are treated fairly," Mr Bowen said.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has vowed to block any bills introduced into parliament that aim to restore the status quo. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has also indicated he will oppose any legislative fixes.

Despite being the architects of the offshore processing system whose basis was challenged by the High Court, the Coalition was prepared to play political chicken with the government by blocking new laws, Mr Morrison indicated.

"We're not about to become shareholders in Labor's failed policies through tacit support for half measures," he said.

"We're quite prepared to test our position on this issue with the Australian public."

The Coalition's position means Labor must abandon hope of restoring the status quo through new legislation.

Mr Bowen indicated last week the government's response may simply be to live with the court's decision while at the same time tightening the administrative operation of the offshore regime to minimise the risk of further legal challenges.

Read more at The Australian


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