Oppn hypocritical on asylum boats: Roxon

5 Aug 2012, 11:15 am   -   Source: AAP
Nicola Roxon says the Liberals are being hypocritical in suggesting boats be sent back to Indonesia. (AAP)

Nicola Roxon says the Liberals are being hypocritical in suggesting boats be sent back to Indonesia. (AAP)

The opposition is being 'massively hypocritical' in suggesting boats be sent back to Indonesia, while fighting Labor's Malaysia plan, says Nicola Roxon.

The federal opposition is "massively hypocritical" and wants it both ways when it comes to stemming the flow of asylum seeker boats, Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says.

The coalition is happy for boats to be turned around and sent back to Indonesia, but has criticised the government's Malaysian people-swap deal.

Neither country is a signatory to the United Nations refugee convention.

"I do think the Liberals are being massively hypocritical in this area," Ms Roxon told Sky News on Sunday.

"They make hay saying we can't possibly send people back to countries that haven't signed on to the convention, but they're happy to turn boats back to Indonesia, who are not party to the convention.

"You can't keep having it both ways here.

"We really do need a circuit-breaker to look at what might be a sensible option which will provide some relief."

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