People smugglers 'in rush to beat new laws'

10 Aug 2012, 7:14 pm   -   Source: AAP

People smugglers could be upping the ante because they fear parliament will shut them down soon, says Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare.

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A spike in asylum seeker boats could be down to people smugglers running a "closing down sale" before parliament takes tough action, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says.

Two boats carrying a combined 55 people were intercepted on Friday afternoon near the Cocos Islands.

Meanwhile 211 people from a boat that required navy assistance on Wednesday night have now been taken to Christmas Island for health and security checks.

The federal government will receive a report on Monday by former defence chief Angus Houston on how to break the people smugglers' trade.

There have been more than 7000 arrivals so far this year, with 22,000 people coming to Australia by boat since Labor came to power in 2007.

The latest interceptions came as the navy confirmed one of its overworked patrol boats involved in dealing with asylum seeker boats had cracks in its engine room and two other vessels had minor cracks.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has urged the Greens and coalition to seriously consider the Houston report's recommendations and work with the government to legislate a solution.

Mr Clare told reporters in Sydney it appeared those running the boats were watching developments in Australia.

"People smugglers are pitching the idea of a closing down sale," Mr Clare said.

"They've been telling people that it's only a matter of time before the Australian parliament passes legislation that makes their job more difficult and encouraging people to get onto boats."

The minister said Australians wanted parliament to act before more people died at sea, following more than 300 deaths in the past seven months.

However, Mr Clare said the Greens and coalition, who united in the Senate to block laws in the last sittings, had been "just as bad as one another" and needed to "put down their swords".

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who is at a working bee in the remote Queensland town of Aurukun, told reporters the government needed to adopt the Howard government's policy of processing on Nauru and temporary protection visas.

"There was a policy that worked. It was scrapped by this government and now we have this unfolding disaster on our borders," Mr Abbott said.

"We don't need an expert panel to tell us what our policy should be."

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said Mr Abbott was being "disrespectful" to Mr Houston. He was hopeful the report would provide a circuit-breaker.

The patrol boat Armidale is undergoing temporary repair work. Permanent repairs were scheduled for completion by October.

Structural engineers were taking a close look at all of the patrol boats in the navy fleet.

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