Gillard removes final brick in Howard’s wall on border protection and swings door open to boats

25/11/11

The Government completed their capitulation to the Greens today on border protection, with their decision to treat boat arrivals the same as those who legally entered the country and to end mandatory detention by releasing single male detainees who have not been found to be refugees into the community, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Julia Gillard has removed every brick in John Howard’s wall on border protection and has flung the door open to illegal boat arrivals on the eve of the monsoon season, the most dangerous time of year to travel,” Mr Morrison said.

“Julia Gillard finished the job Kevin Rudd started four years ago by completely abandoning all the proven border protection policies of the Howard government. They have set back the clock on border protection to pre the Tampa, more than ten years ago.

“The Government has completely rolled over to the Greens, opening up a sea lane for people smugglers.

“People who arrive illegally by boat will now be released from detention and have access to all the onshore processes denied them by the Howard Government.

“Single males who have not been found to be refugees, as opposed to just children and vulnerable people, will be released into the community, effectively ending mandatory detention.

“Failed asylum seekers who arrive by boat will now be able to stay in Australia for years to pursue their claims through the Refugee Review Tribunal and endlessly in the courts, with broader grounds of appeal, while living and working in the community.

“A Government who claims to want to provide a deterrent on boat arrivals would never do this. Their actions today prove their false conversion on border protection. They can’t be trusted, they can’t be believed.

“The same motives and lack of resolve that led them to abolish the Pacific Solution and temporary protection visas almost four years ago, are the same as those behind today’s decision.

“This is further demonstrated by the Government’s failure to have a vote on their Migration Act amendments in the Parliament yesterday.  

“After their grubby deal on the Speaker, the Government had the numbers to pass their Migration Bill in the Parliament. Yet rather than have the vote, they ran, passing up the opportunity to have the Bill passed.

“It is clear that only the Coalition can be trusted to protect our borders,” Mr Morrison said.