From AAP

10feb02

LABOR was prepared to compromise on the refugee appeals process in an attempt to speed up the processing of asylum seekers, Labor Leader Simon Crean has said.

Mr Crean has urged the government to take a more compassionate approach toward asylum seekers, saying faster processing and greater international cooperation would be a step in the right direction.

"We actually put forward a proposal that would have stripped out the layers of appeal," Mr Crean told ABC Television today.

"We're prepared to give the current proposal which the government has got - an appeal only to the Refugee Review Tribunal - a go.

"We believe there is a better alternative to that but we're prepared to give it a go."

Mr Crean said the government and Labor must work together on the issue of asylum seekers to ensure the best outcome.

"Im prepared, and I've said this consistently, to sit down with the government and try and work through a common solution," he said.

"I don't think we should be trying to score points on this, we should be trying to arrive at solutions."

The Labor Caucus will meet in Canberra tomorrow, ahead of the opening of Federal Parliament on Tuesday, with its policies on refugees said to be a top priority for discussion.

"I think the need to process people quickly - to determine the facts as to whether or not they are legitimate refugees or not," Mr Crean said.

Australia also needs to assert itself as part of the international community and work toward a comprehensive international solution, he said.