Asylum Debate

Turning back boats is reckless: Bowen

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:49:18 +1100

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the opposition's policy of turning around asylum-seeker boats will only lead to more dangerous rescues.

PM, Abbott in blame game

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:18:51 +1100

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is refusing to accept blame for the government's decision to temporarily abandon plans for the offshore processing of asylum seekers.

No maximum period in detention: Bowen

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:39:01 +1100

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has ruled out establishing a maximum period in detention for asylum seekers after the government was forced move to onshore processing.

Greens won't support amendments

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:34:56 +1100

Greens leader Bob Brown says the Greens continue to support onshore processing of asylum seekers and will not support amendments to Australia's migration laws.

The numbers behind the asylum debate

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +1100

The issue of asylum seekers arriving in Australia polarises public opinion. Here are some facts and statistics to help you make up your mind.

Detention centres breaking people: report

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:14:20 +1100

Asylum seekers say immigration detention centres are rife with suicide attempts and the overuse of anti-depressants.

Oppn attacks Labor's immigration bickering

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:04:02 +1100

Chris Bowen should resign as immigration minister after backing the coalition's Nauru solution and failing to end the government's internal bickering over asylum-seeker policy, the opposition says.

PM urged to resign over asylum deal

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:10:04 +1100

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says PM Gillard and Immigration Minister Chris Bowen should resign over the government's failed Malaysian people swap deal.

Crook sinks Malaysia deal

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:15:43 +1100

West Australian Nationals MP Tony Crook has confirmed he will vote against the government's amendments to the Migration Act.

Campaign targets migrant 'slavery'

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:25:52 +1100

A government-funded campaign has been launched on television and cinemas nationally, aiming to raise awareness of modern-day slavery.

Senate report slams Malaysia solution

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:34:07 +1100

A majority of members in the senate inquiry into the Malaysia solution have said the 'atrocious' policy should not proceed.

Serco had been warned about riots: NSW police

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:18:04 +1100

NSW Police say they had warned the company that runs the Villawood Detention Centre of the possibility of a riot two days before it broke earlier this year.

Christmas Island Administrator reappointed

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:50:00 +1100

The federal government's representative on Christmas Island, which holds a key asylum seeker detention centre, has been reappointed for another year.

Inquiry told of child detainee's self harm

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:18:10 +1100

A Darwin doctor has told a parliamentary inquiry that a nine-year-old child in immigration detention tried to commit suicide.

Major parties 'hysterical' on asylum deals

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:13:55 +1100

A further 49 asylum seekers have been discovered hiding from border protection officers under a false deck of a vessel intercepted by the navy off Christmas Island.

Greens propose own migration changes

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:36:02 +1100

The Australian Greens are proposing their own Migration Act amendments to affirm onshore processing of asylum seekers.

Labor primes for defeat on asylum

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:02:42 +1100

The federal government will press ahead with a doomed bid to resurrect its Malaysian people swap deal.

Coalition rejects revised migration changes

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:38:01 +1100

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rejected the Government's latest proposed changes to the Migration Act, saying they pay only lip service to concerns about protections for asylum seekers.

Bowen to reject Coalition's migration amendments

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:12:40 +1100

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the federal government will oppose the coalition's proposed amendment to migration laws.

Coalition to propose migration amendments

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:32:57 +1100

Opposition leader Tony Abbott says the government’s new proposed migration law changes are worse than the previous ones.