Govt, oppn trade blame over boat arrival

19 Oct 2011, 5:05 pm   -   Source: AAP
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The blame game is under way over the first asylum-seeker boat to arrive since Labor was forced to revert to onshore processing.

The government and opposition have wasted no time blaming each other for the first asylum seeker boat to arrive since Labor had to abandon its controversial Malaysian people-swap deal.

Border protection authorities intercepted the vessel carrying an estimated 51 passengers and four crew near Scott Reef, off the West Australian coast, overnight.

The passengers were being transferred to Christmas Island for processing.

It is the first boat to arrive since the government conceded it could not get its legislation aimed at reviving the Malaysian deal through the parliament.

The coalition, Australian Greens and key crossbenchers all opposed the changes.

The government has now reverted to onshore processing, a move immigration officials have warned could lead to up to 600 asylum seekers arriving by boat every month.

Within hours of the latest arrival Prime Minister Julia Gillard had levelled blame at Opposition Leader Tony Abbott because he blocked the legislation.

"As a result of Mr Abbott's very reckless strategy, we will see more boats," Ms Gillard told reporters in Sydney.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor echoed his leader's sentiments.

"Every time a vessel arrives, Tony Abbott is responsible, because he is a national vandal; he has wrecked border protection by putting his personal interest ahead of the interests of this country," Mr O'Connor told reporters.

But opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the boat's arrival was "business as usual" for Labor.

"Boats have been arriving at the rate of one per week in 2011," he said.

"The government's decision to adopt the Greens' policies on border protection can only make matters worse, giving the people smugglers an even better product to sell."

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the announcement of the Malaysian deal had helped push down the number of asylum claims in the first half of 2011.

New United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) figures show that while wealthy nations reported an overall 17 per cent rise in asylum applications, Australia bucked the trend with a 19 per cent decrease.

Mr Bowen said several factors were behind the decrease but the Malaysian announcement - originally made on May 7 - "clearly had an effect".

But Mr Morrison said that despite the fall from the high levels of 2010 the number of asylum applications lodged in the first half of 2011 was up 69 per cent on 2009 levels.

Under the Malaysia deal, the government had wanted to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 proven refugees.

But the High Court in August ruled the deal unlawful, a verdict that put all offshore processing of asylum seekers in doubt.

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