Abbott defends Bishop's Sri Lanka idea

3 Sep 2012, 2:54 pm   -   Source: AAP
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has defended Julie Bishop's Sri Lankan deportation plan. (AAP)

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has defended Julie Bishop's Sri Lankan deportation plan. (AAP)

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has defended Julie Bishop's Sri Lankan deportation plan, saying the country's civil war is "long over".

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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has defended his deputy's call for Australia to send Sri Lankan asylum seekers back to their country without assessing their refugee claims.

Mr Abbott says such a measure would help deny the people smugglers a product to sell.

"Sri Lanka had a civil war. The civil war is long over," he told reporters in Geelong on Monday.

"That's why it's important to have a robust policy in place to stop the boats."

Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop says the government should strike a deal with Sri Lanka to immediately transfer all asylum seekers from the country back before they set foot on Australian soil.

She says the rejection rate for Sri Lankan asylum seekers is high, with most proving to be economic migrants and many also attracting negative ASIO security assessments.

The statement drew sharp fire from the government, which says such a policy would be a clear breach of the United Nations Refugee Convention.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith on Monday added his voice to condemnation of the idea.

"I find it both extraordinary and hypocritical," he said.

"This is the political party that said they couldn't authorise the Malaysian arrangement because Malaysia is not a party to the Refugee Convention."

Refugee and Tamil groups have also condemned the idea.

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