LABOR'S PNG DEAL HAS REDUCED ASYLUM SEEKER BOATS

[not_an_eloi]

Christmas Island's administrator Jon Stanhope has credited Labor's Papua New Guinea deal for a dramatic reduction in asylum seeker boat arrivals, even though he is uncomfortable with the policy.

Mr Stanhope says since the policy was introduced in July, the number of boat arrivals has gone from about five a week to just one.

"There certainly has been a significant change in activity, certainly since the beginning of July the number of boat arrivals, the number of asylum seekers arriving on Christmas Island has decreased," he said.

"Since the new arrangement, the PNG solution, and the arrangements of the new government, there has been a steady decline in both boats and asylum seekers and I don't think it's coincidental."

Under the deal signed by Labor and largely adopted by the Coalition, all asylum seekers who arrive by boat are now sent to PNG for processing and, if found to be refugees, resettled there.

Mr Stanhope says he respects the Coalition's mandate to continue with the tough asylum seeker policy and will not be providing any commentary about it.

But he is highly critical of his own party's handling of the issue and its current policy position, even though it appears to be working.

"Is that the indicator of success that any asylum seeker that gets to Australia is immediately deported? Or is a key performance indicator or an indicator of success that you acted with compassion, that you acted with humanity?"

Mr Stanhope says many within Labor are uncomfortable with the party's policy and he is hoping the new leader - to be announced on Sunday - will change tack.

"There's a high level of concern, regret, and I think it's fair to say, anger," he added.

Mr Stanhope was in Canberra this week meeting the new Coalition Government and the minister responsible for Christmas Island, Jamie Briggs.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-11/christmas-island-administrator-believes-png-deal-working/50173...

[*ibis]

OMG im laughing so hard i just fell on a cactus

its labor that has stopped the boats

ok no worries

[lakeland27]

they havent stopped, the png thing slowed them down .  its not something rabbitt can claim yet.

[***super_nova***]

---

@*ibis wrote:

its labor that has stopped the boats

ok no worries

---

Well, yes!  The numbers were drastically reduced in August.  That is before the election, and continue to be low in September.  Of-course, TA will claim credit for that.

[*ibis]

labor stopped the boats!!!!!

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[lightningdance]

Here we see it every day, Labor not looking at just why they were so thoroughly rejected by the voters but how they crow about any success PM Abbott may get on this issue as a result of "Labor" policy, what a pathetic joke, no wonder they lost & lost so badly.

What the left fail to say is that there are thousands of illegal boat people in Indonesia waiting to come to Australia & Australians are PAYING FOR THEM, food, clothing, accommodation, phones, education, health care.

The massive backlog of people are still waiting to get on boats, Indonesia have this problem, of Labors making, but the left on here can only snipe from the sidelines with their dogged obtuseness.

Pathetic failures of Labor has left Australia in a very serious position financially, massive debt, massive regulation introduced by Labor strangling govt & industrial relations that needs a full re work to get this country moving again.

The left come on here every day & bleat about inconsequential things like "entitlements" which BOTH SIDES  make errors with, a policy that comes up periodically from the losers to wave about their outrage, why?? because they have nothing else.

Well I suppose they have NOTHING else to carp about, NOTHING to be proud of from the failed party they supported so all they can do is ceaselessly head bang for the next 2 terms of govt.

Go the  Head bangers

[debra9275]

on last nights news there was a story about new customs boats being commissioned

 they weill be ready in 2015,   Handy!!! 

good to see some of the policies Labor put in place working eloi

[lakeland27]

its like hockeys sudden silence on the 'Budget Emergency' that never existed. he's waiting for a few more months to pass so he can claim some credit for Swans good work.  he'll be in swans shadow for his entire term .

[lightningdance]

Swans good work????????????? oh my giddy aunt

[lakeland27]

must be a family trait .