Ruddock agrees to talks on Afghan safe haven

The Federal Government had sounded the death knell for its Pacific solution by agreeing to talks on granting Afghan asylum-seekers safe haven in Australia, the Labor Party said yesterday.

Opposition Leader Simon Crean said new laws allowing asylum-seekers to be brought from Papua New Guinea and Nauru to Australia in exceptional circumstances proved the policy had been an expensive failure.

When added to the construction of a new immigration detention centre on Christmas Island capable of housing up to 1200 asylum-seekers, the changes pointed to the end of the Pacific solution.

"It was a solution conceived in deceit and delivered in haste," Mr Crean told Parliament.

"The Bill is really proof that the Pacific solution is not working."

The Pacific policy was introduced by the Government during last year's stand-off involving the Norwegian freighter Tampa.

At the time, Prime Minister John Howard promised not one of 433 mostly Afghan asylum-seekers on the ship would set foot on Australian soil.

But under the changes, the Government will now be able to bring asylum-seekers to Australia for emergency hospital treatment, while preventing them from applying for refugee status when onshore.

It will also allow them passage through Australia to return home or for refugee resettlement elsewhere, or to testify in criminal trials involving alleged people smugglers.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock urged Labor to pass the laws before Parliament rose for almost two months next week, with medical emergency a daily possibility.

But Mr Crean threatened a Senate stand-off unless the Government agreed to amendments that would allow the Afghans temporary safe haven in Australia, similar to arrangements previously put in place for displaced Kosovars.

He also demanded any asylum-seekers detained in Australia have access to the Refugee Review Tribunal after a period of six months.

Mr Crean said the Opposition was only willing to cooperate with the Government in the Senate if it agreed to the changes.

Mr Ruddock agreed to the review amendment and promised to continue constructive discussions on the safe-haven status, which would allow Afghans temporary access to the community and make the Pacific solution unnecessary. But he denied the policy was unravelling.

He said the Pacific solution was a critical part of the Government's overall policy to discourage people smugglers, which had broken the perception that Australia was an easy target.

The Pacific solution, which Labor claims has cost more than $400 million, had never been intended as the complete solution to unauthorised arrivals and the Christmas Island facility was simply a contingency.

But Mr Crean said the Government had finally agreed to abandon its hard-line election posturing on border control and work with Labor on immigration in a bipartisan spirit.

"It shows that the Pacific solution is now dead," he said.

"We are pleased that the Government has accepted our amendments, that it has admitted the inevitable."


	Government News Index site index HOME Ruddock agrees to talks on Afghan safe haven AAP The Federal Government had sounded the death knell for its Pacific solution by agreeing to talks on granting Afghan asylum-seekers safe haven in Australia, the Labor Party said yesterday. Opposition Leader Simon Crean said new laws allowing asylum-seekers to be brought from Papua New Guinea and Nauru to Australia in exceptional circumstances proved the policy had been an expensive failure. When added to the construction of a new immigration detention centre on Christmas Island capable of housing up to 1200 asylum-seekers, the changes pointed to the end of the Pacific solution. "It was a solution conceived in deceit and delivered in haste," Mr Crean told Parliament. "The Bill is really proof that the Pacific solution is not working." The Pacific policy was introduced by the Government during last year's stand-off involving the Norwegian freighter Tampa. At the time, Prime Minister John Howard promised not one of 433 mostly Afghan asylum-seekers on the ship would set foot on Australian soil. But under the changes, the Government will now be able to bring asylum-seekers to Australia for emergency hospital treatment, while preventing them from applying for refugee status when onshore. It will also allow them passage through Australia to return home or for refugee resettlement elsewhere, or to testify in criminal trials involving alleged people smugglers. Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock urged Labor to pass the laws before Parliament rose for almost two months next week, with medical emergency a daily possibility. But Mr Crean threatened a Senate stand-off unless the Government agreed to amendments that would allow the Afghans temporary safe haven in Australia, similar to arrangements previously put in place for displaced Kosovars. He also demanded any asylum-seekers detained in Australia have access to the Refugee Review Tribunal after a period of six months. Mr Crean said the Opposition was only willing to cooperate with the Government in the Senate if it agreed to the changes. Mr Ruddock agreed to the review amendment and promised to continue constructive discussions on the safe-haven status, which would allow Afghans temporary access to the community and make the Pacific solution unnecessary. But he denied the policy was unravelling. He said the Pacific solution was a critical part of the Government's overall policy to discourage people smugglers, which had broken the perception that Australia was an easy target. The Pacific solution, which Labor claims has cost more than $400 million, had never been intended as the complete solution to unauthorised arrivals and the Christmas Island facility was simply a contingency. But Mr Crean said the Government had finally agreed to abandon its hard-line election posturing on border control and work with Labor on immigration in a bipartisan spirit. "It shows that the Pacific solution is now dead," he said. "We are pleased that the Government has accepted our amendments, that it has admitted the inevitable." Canberra Times Index