Disaster renews 'stop the boats' call

3 Feb 2012, 3:46 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison. (AAP)

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison. (AAP)

After the latest asylum-seeker boat disaster, the opposition's Scott Morrison says he won't talk with the government any more about offshore processing.

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Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says efforts in the Malaysia boat disaster are focused on "recovery and rescue".

At least eight asylum seekers were found dead early on Wednesday after their boat capsized off southern Malaysia while en route to Australia.

Grave fears are held for about six others who are missing. Thirteen people made it to shore.

"The effort at the moment always has to focus on recovery and rescue," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

He said the coalition remained committed to its policy of reopening the detention centre on Nauru, the reintroduction of temporary protection visas (TPVs) and the towing of boats back to Indonesia.

"That is the policy that's proven, that is the policy that's strong and that's the policy that should be restored to stop the boats," he said.

Mr Morrison said there would be no more talks with the government about resurrecting the offshore processing of asylum seekers.

"There is no further talks because the government has refused to change the legislation," he said.

"The government clearly has been seeking to do nothing other than trash the Nauru option with their ridiculous costings, which have been lampooned around the country.

"They have no serious intention of restoring temporary protection visas. We know they won't turn the boats back."

This week's boat accident comes two months after more than 200 asylum seekers drowned when their vessel sank after leaving for Australia from East Java in Indonesia.

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