PM reaches out to Coalition on boats

26 Jun 2012, 6:11 am   -   Source: AAP
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she's willing to talk to the opposition about a solution to people getting on boats and trying to reach Australia.

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Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the government is "open to further discussions" with the opposition to find a solution to the asylum seeker boat issue.

Ms Gillard said Labor's proposal to combine elements of its Malaysia offshore processing plan and the coalition's Nauru solution remained on the table.

"People can criticise each other's policy solutions but to get something done then we need to work across the parliament," she told ABC television.

"And I want to be very clear we are willing to enact that compromise, which contains elements of the opposition policy.

"I am willing to keep talking to the opposition and across the parliament so that we put the politics to one side to address the fact people are risking their lives."

About 90 asylum seekers are feared to have drowned when their overcrowded boat capsized between Indonesia and Christmas Island on Thursday.

The tragedy has sparked fresh calls for a deal between the major parties - both of which support offshore processing but differ on whether to use Malaysia or Nauru - in an effort to stem the flow of boats trying to reach Australia.

As well, the Greens have called for Australia to increase its annual humanitarian refugee intake from the current 14,000 to 25,000.

Ms Gillard said immigration department advice remained that the deal with Malaysia was the best deterrent to people smugglers.

Labor's Malaysia plan involved sending 800 people refugee to Malaysia for processing in exchange for 4000 processed refugees.

But last year the High Court ruled against it.

Ms Gillard said finding a solution involving offshore processing was more likely to occur with the opposition than with the Greens.

"I don't believe that the Greens are going to agree to a package of offshore processing," Ms Gillard said.

"It seems to me to, just make the most intuitive sense that if you put the politics of opposition and government to one aside and to come back to people working together, it would seem more easier for people who both agree on offshore processing."

Asked if the government was open to changing its position, Ms Gillard repeated she was open to further discussions.

"I think it was very regrettable that on the weekend the Leader of the Opposition ruled out any policy changes or shifts by the opposition," she added.

"People are looking to us to put the politics to one side, to stop the exchanges about the past."

After last year's High Court decision, the government proposed changing migration laws to allow offshore processing.

But the coalition refused to support the amendments because Malaysia hadn't signed the UN refugee convention.

The opposition prefers reopening the Howard-era Nauru detention centre, which was closed when Labor came to power in 2007.

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Your Comments

Mr

Roy - from Mundaring, 11 months ago

The cause of the sorry state of affairs now affecting our border security must lie at entirely with Rudd. He was the ill informed prime minister who closed down Nauru. The former liberal government had in place a strong and humane solution to the problem of illegal entry into our country, I know this because I was part of the team that were responsible for the well being of these people in Nauru. What a shame our country is burdened with such totally out of touch people like Rudd and Gillard.

Abbott

mark - from moonta, 11 months ago

Abbott does not want to cooperate he will losse another slogan toxic tax will be dead in the water in six months and if he losses the stop the boat slogan what will he have left.Abbott is a narsacist which is why he was unable to negotiate with the independents to form gov.

Boat people

oncewas - from bribie island, 11 months ago

Tony Abbot is again refusing to talk, insisting that Labor use his policy. Tony thinks his job is to cause the downfall and replacement of the government. It isn't Tony. The people change the government at the ballot box. Your job is to keep the government honest and at the same time co-operate by assisting Labor to govern. For the good of the country, including those who voted for you. Suck it up. You lost, you may win next time,God help us.

give it up Juliar

P Munz - from Sydney, 11 months ago

With her government's track record it's highly unlikely that Gillard could successfully reinstate border control regardless of anyones cooperation.

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