Asylum seekers bill passes lower house

15 Aug 2012, 1:45 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Urgent government legislation reinstating offshore processing centres for asylum seekers has cleared parliament's lower house.

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Urgent government legislation reinstating offshore processing centres for asylum seekers has cleared parliament's lower house.

Only two MPs - independent Andrew Wilkie and Adam Bandt from the Australian Greens - voted against the bill.

Labor and coalition MPs sat side-by-side to support measures that will allow the government to reinstate processing centres on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

Earlier, the house rejected an opposition amendment that called on the federal government to restore temporary protection visas and issue defence with instructions to turn back asylum seeker boats where it was safe to do so.

MPs also rejected a Greens amendment that limits the bill's measures to 12 months.

The Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2011 now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Earlier, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said asylum seekers who reach Australia by boat this week are "at risk" of being sent to Nauru or Papua New Guinea where they will initially live in tents.

Three boats carrying a total of 200 people have been intercepted since Monday, when the Labor government accepted in principle the recommendations of Angus Houston's expert panel report on ways to stop the flow of vessels from Asia.

Ms Gillard said as of Monday, all boat arrivals were "at risk of being transferred to Manus Island or to Nauru".

"That is a very clear statement and a clear message to anybody who is contemplating paying a people smuggler and getting on a boat," she told Sky News on Wednesday.

Ms Gillard has been challenged by the Australian Greens to commit to time limits for the detention of asylum seekers at the centres, which the government wants operational as soon as possible.

"These issues involving human beings both tear at your heart and challenge your thinking," she said.

"Because we do have to extend compassion to people who are fleeing persecution but we don't want to create any incentive to risking your life at sea."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, whose coalition will support the government's legislation, said he had no problem with people living in tents.

"People who arrive illegally by boat need to be treated humanely but they can't expect five-star treatment or even three-star treatment," he said.

But Greens leader Christine Milne said tent accommodation was inhumane.

"On the one hand Angus Houston is saying people will be treated better this time and in the next breath we are going to be setting up these huge, temporary tent camps and we are taking away people's human rights," she told reporters in Canberra.

The government wants its legislation to pass parliament by the end of this week but independent senator Nick Xenophon has warned he wants a "thorough" parliamentary debate when it reaches the Senate.

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Your Comments

Indefinite detention

Mark - from moonta, 9 months ago

if ofshore processing is to happen lets have a maximum time limit of six months to process people otherwise it is a out of sight out of mind immoral policy.But thanks adam and andrew bieng two of only a few politicians with moral principles unlike abbott and gillard.

Turkey/Jordan/Australia

Darrel - from Port Adelaide, 9 months ago

I am confused by Christine Milne. We send our school children camping and teach it as a great life style choice. How is it inhumane? Secondly, there are 100'000s of refugees living in tents in Turkey and Jordan. Why is that inhumane? The funding the Australian government pay for the upkeep of these asylum seekers is ridiculous. And the fact remains, we do not know that all these people are escaping persecution or if at least some have ulterior motives. The message to the smugglers. STOP !

TPVs

Cat - from Lower Mitcham, 9 months ago

Aid workers are asking why TPVs have not been reinstated - they say these would be the single biggest disincentive against getting on a boat. Can SBS address that please?

A win for true refugee's !

True Blue Ozzie - from Gladstone Q, 9 months ago

At last a win for the " true refugee's " the ones who cant aford to pay people smugglers, stuck in terrible conditions and camps with no hope of getting ever getting out. I'm not racist, but I have no respect or sympathy what so ever for the "illegal boat paying people" they dont deserve our help.Who do these people think they are making demarnds on our country! A true refugee would be thankful for a safe shelter, food, clothing and medical services. POWER TO REAL REFUGEE'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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