A surf lesson turned into a political dialogue when federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott took an Afghan refugee for a paddle at Sydney's Manly beach.
Mr Abbott had donned his infamous budgie smugglers, but they were soon covered by a wetsuit when he gave the organised surf
lesson to Riz Wakil.
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The lesson was sponsored by advocacy group GetUp! after it raised $16,100 to bid on the surf lesson prize at last year's Canberra press gallery's mid-winter charity ball.
Mr Abbott made no bones about the fact Mr Wakil had arrived in Australia by boat in 1999.
"He's an Australian now," Mr Abbott told reporters on Saturday.
"To my way of thinking he's no longer an illegal boat person.
"He's an Australian, and he's entitled to all the rights and all the courtesies that Australians are entitled to."
Mr Wakil did not hesitate to express his dismay over the current stoush between the government and the coalition over asylum seeker
policy.
"The Howard government blew over a billion dollars to lock up just 1500 people in Nauru," Mr Wakil told journalists after the
surf lesson.
"Tony unfortunately has the same idea to do exactly the same thing, which is cruel and which is expensive."
Mr Abbott interjected, saying "and Julia does too".
The response prompted Mr Wakil to take aim also at the government.
"Julia Gillard will blow over $800 million of taxpayers money just next year if she goes with this plan to lock up people on
(Manus Island)."
Mr Wakil managed to stand briefly on the surfboard under Mr Abbott's instruction, in rough but sunny conditions.
