Labor's Asylum Seeker Policy - Flip Flop

 

FLIP-FLOPPING ON THE PACIFIC SOLUTION

Gillard was against offshore processing and the Pacific solution in opposition:

Labor will end the so-called Pacific solution – the processing and detaining of asylum seekers on Pacific islands – because it is costly, unsustainable and wrong as a matter of principle…

(Julia Gillard, House Hansard, 13/5/2003)

And as Deputy Prime Minister, Labor dismantled the Coalition’s successful Pacific Solution policy:

“Labor committed to abolishing the Pacific Solution and this was one the first things the Rudd Labor Government did on taking office. It was also one of my greatest pleasures in politics.”

(Chris Evans, Address to the Refugee Council of Australia, Parramatta Town Hall, 17/11/2008)

But in government, they changed their mind by negotiating with PNG, despite it being a part of the Pacific Solution - although Julia Gillard won’t admit it:

“There’s no point getting on a boat because your claim won’t be processed, but we will continue to work through with Malaysia, and it’s also very clear to Australians we’ve been in discussions with PNG.”

(Julia Gillard, Doorstop Interview, 16 May 2011)

“HOST: This previous criticism wasn’t about any legal advice, it was about principle. Your words were costly and unsustainable, wrong as a matter of principle. What I’m asking is, is that still your principled position?

PM: Look, David, I’ve just responded to how we will deal with this. I’m not going to be drawn on policy questions of this nature at this time.”

(Julia Gillard, Sky News, 2/9/2011)

 

 

FLIP-FLOPPING ON TURNING BACK THE BOATS

In opposition, Julia Gillard supported turning back boats:

“The Navy has turned back four boats to Indonesia. They were in sea-worthy shape and arrived in Indonesia. It has made a very big difference to people-smuggling that that happened… And we think turning boats around that are seaworthy, that can make the return journey, and are in international waters, fits in with that.”

(Julia Gillard, Press conference, 3/12/2002)

But then she changed her mind and didn’t support turning back boats…

I speak of the claim often made by Opposition politicians that they will, and I quote: "turn the boats back." This needs to be seen for what it is. It's a shallow slogan. It's nonsense.

(Julia Gillard, Speech to Lowy Institute, Press conference, 6/7/2010)

And now, she apparently supports ‘virtual’ turning back boats.

“They believe they are coming to Australia but they end up somewhere else. It is a virtual turnaround of boats.”

(Julia Gillard, House Hansard, 12/9/2011)

 

FLIP-FLOPPING ON TEMPORARY PROTECTION VISA’S (TPVs)

In opposition Labor and Gillard supported TPVs:

“The proposal in this document, Labor’s policy, is that an unauthorised arrival who does have a genuine refugee claim would in the first instance get a short Temporary Protection Visa.”

(Julia Gillard, Press conference, 3/12/2002)

“We want a short first-instance Temporary Protection Visa. Obviously that’s a matter that we can clarify over time, but it depends really on where we think global protection needs are at that stage.”

(Julia Gillard, Press conference, 3/12/2002)

But now in government, Labor and Gillard don’t support TPVs:

“The Rudd government is proud of its reforms in abolishing temporary protection visas [and] closing the so-called Pacific Solution...”

(Chris Evans, Address to the Sydney Institute, 24/3/2010)

 

 

FLIP-FLOPPING ON SIGNATORY COUNTRIES TO THE UN CONVENTION

Julia Gillard and Labor have consistently said asylum seekers would never go to a country that hadn't signed the UN refugee convention:

“I would rule out anywhere that is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention.”

 (Julia Gillard, Radio 6PR, 8/7/2010)

“In terms of my plan for a regional framework and a regional processing centre, we want to deal with the countries that are signatory to the refugee convention.”

(Julia Gillard, Doorstop, 29/7/2010)

“… my policy, the policy that I’ve announced is I want to see a regional processing centre, a centre [that] is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees. East Timor is a signatory.”’

(Julia Gillard, Doorstop, 10/8/2010)

But then, we got the scuttled Malaysian swap deal despite it not having signed the convention:

From the UNHCR website - Malaysia is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its Protocol. By law, refugees are vulnerable to arrest for immigration offences and may be subject to detention, prosecution, whipping and deportation.

 

FLIP-FLOPPING ON THE EXPANSION OF ONSHORE DETENTION CENTRES

During the election campaign Julia Gillard said there would be no expansion of onshore detention centres…  but then she broke that promise:

“GILLARD: No work is planned at Curtin other than the work which is underway now and which has already been publicly disclosed, publicly released and talked about.

GEOFF HUTCHISON: There is no intention to expand that facility beyond the capacity of 300 people?

GILLARD: I’ve just given you the answer. The work at Curtin that is underway now is the work that is planned. It’s already been publicly released. There are no secret plans in the way that you characterise. That’s just simply not true.”

(Julia Gillard, ABC 720 Perth, 18 August 2010)

"Defence has advised there is no construction activity at RAAF Scherger," a Labor spokesman said. "On current plans, asylum seekers will not be housed at RAAF Scherger.”

(The Cairns Post, 2 August 2010)