Border protection policy failure

The ineffectiveness of the Gillard Government’s approach to border protection is being continuously exposed and more than 11,000 people have now arrived in 220 boats since the abandonment of the policies of the Howard Government, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.

“How we manage our borders, and appropriately assess the claims of those who have arrived in Australia illegally, are consistently raised with me by residents of the Mitchell community,” Mr Hawke said.

“There is much pride in the history and legacy of Australia’s humanitarian programs and clearly no-one takes any pleasure from seeing other people in distress or in difficulty. But frustration with the Gillard Government’s approach is increasing.”

Mr Hawke said that in December 2007 there were just four people in immigration detention who had arrived in Australia illegally by boat. Now there are more than 6,500.

“Not only is there overcrowding, but we have also seen footage of riots in Villawood and Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centres,” Mr Hawke said.

“Much time has also been wasted on the Gillard Government’s so-called ‘East Timor solution’. The sentiment passed on to me from residents in our community is that this East Timor solution seems to be a political fix to try and address the increasing number of people who are illegally arriving in Australia by boat.”

Mr Hawke said the Federal Coalition is calling on the Government to reintroduce measures that had worked effectively under the Howard Government. These include the reintroduction of temporary protection visas for all who come illegally by boat, better and stronger relationships with close countries like Indonesia, and rigorous offshore processing including reopening of the detention centre in Nauru. The Coalition also believes that the Government should reserve for itself the right to turn around boats should that be practical.

“Since the Government abandoned the Howard Government’s approach to border protection people smugglers have been doing an increasing trade in arranging people to arrive in Australia illegally by boat,” Mr Hawke said.

“The surge in the number of people who have arrived, and continue to arrive illegally by boat, makes us ask whether the Gillard Government is adequately protecting Australia’s borders.”