http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/news/news-from-australia/news-in-australia/mark-latham-says-labor-s...
Mark Latham says Labor should support tow back asylum boats policy
Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has urged Prime Minister Julia Gillard to adopt the Coalition’s policy of sending boats carrying asylum seekers back into Indonesian waters in order to address the severity of the people smuggling issue.
By Paul Bleakley on 11 June, 2013
...The controversial former politician called on Ms Gillard to tow boats carrying asylum seekers back into Indonesian waters without the country’s prior approval in an attempt to pressure Jakarta into taking stronger action against the people smugglers operating out of Indonesian ports. He said that corruption in Indonesian law enforcement facilitated people smuggling, and that the Indonesian government “will never agree” to take responsibility for the issue.
Mr Latham said: “We’re talking about a major problem here, and we’re better off confronting that. The Indonesians won’t agree but it should be tried in an exercise almost like calling their bluff. No decent person with any sort of heart could stand by and watch these families, these children, drowning on the high seas between Australia and Indonesia.
“There comes a time in politics and public life . . . where the thought of lying in bed at night thinking of young children drowning on the seas – who gives a **bleep** about parliamentary politics – there comes a time to call the truth and to act on it.”
Liberal frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull supported Mr Latham’s position, saying that “seaworthy” vessels could be escorted “to the limit of the territorial waters so that their only option is to return there (Indonesia).”He said that the government would only take this course of action “where it is safe to do so” and admitted that the co-operation of the Indonesian government would be important in order to ensure the safety of those on board the suspected people smuggling vessels.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Coalition defies Indonesia with boat tow-back policy
She said Mr Rudd's first government had dismantled the Howard government's policies without consulting Indonesia and in doing so ''he weakened our border protection laws and that has sparked this whole crisis''.
Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison agreed with Ms Bishop that the Coalition would tow back boats even if it was against the express wishes of the Indonesian government.
''No one told John Howard he couldn't do it either, or could do it,'' Mr Morrison told ABC radio on Monday morning.
''John Howard didn’t even discuss it with the Indonesian President. That's a decision we take . . . on our side of the border.''
The Coalition's policy was a ''no surprises'' one, Mr Morrison said. ''I don't think anyone, anywhere, could think that it's not the Coalition’s policy to turn boats back where it's safe to do so. I think we've been pretty clear about that.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/coalition-defies-indonesia-with-boat-to...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
DAVID LIPSON Sure, but the Coalition has said that the Indonesians are aware of your policy and yet the Ambassador and the Foreign Minister have both said that it is not acceptable to them. Why is that not good enough?
JULIE BISHOP What is being put to the Indonesian officials is quote “a tow-back policy” which implies that the Australian Navy would be escorting boats back into Indonesian ports. That would be a violation of Indonesian territorial sovereignty and we’ve never suggested that would be the case.
http://www.juliebishop.com.au/transcripts/1302-lunchtime-agenda.html
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Am3, some of have believed that 'the boat turnback' could be done in each and every case ...which isn't the truth.
