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Abbott backs expanding offshore processing

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the coalition supports expanding offshore processing of would-be refugees because it invented it.

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Source: AAP


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Any moves by the federal government to expand offshore processing of asylum seekers will be "too little, too late", the opposition says.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is on Friday expected to announce an increase to the capacity of Australia's Papua New Guinea processing centre on Manus Island from 600 to 3000.

The facility currently houses 215 people in tents and a 600-bed permanent facility is due for completion in January.

"Fine, by all means let's expand the capacity of the Manus centre," Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.

"But from this government, it's too little too late."

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If Labor were "fair dinkum" about offshore processing it would have finished work on its regional centres sooner, Mr Abbott added.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard reinstated the Howard-era policy of offshore processing in August 2012.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison earlier said the coalition would likely retain any increases to capacity on Manus Island, should it be announced by Mr Rudd.


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