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Tony Abbott denounces Kevin Rudd's 'international crusade' on asylum Tony Abbott denounces Kevin Rudd's 'international crusade' on asylum
(2 months later)
Tony Abbott has told the prime minister to stop making refugee policy “the world’s problem” and instead take action in Australia after Kevin Rudd hinted the government would look at trying to change the United Nations refugee convention.Tony Abbott has told the prime minister to stop making refugee policy “the world’s problem” and instead take action in Australia after Kevin Rudd hinted the government would look at trying to change the United Nations refugee convention.
The federal government is expected to reveal its new asylum seeker policy imminently, after coming under increasing pressure in the past few days with at least 13 people dying and two separate boats capsizing in rough seas off Christmas Island.The federal government is expected to reveal its new asylum seeker policy imminently, after coming under increasing pressure in the past few days with at least 13 people dying and two separate boats capsizing in rough seas off Christmas Island.
On Wednesday, Rudd flagged a potential review into "the effectiveness of the refugee convention”, with government sources telling Guardian Australia this could involve a new "activist" role in international discussions about how the 1951 treaty is implemented, rather than Australia walking away from it completely.On Wednesday, Rudd flagged a potential review into "the effectiveness of the refugee convention”, with government sources telling Guardian Australia this could involve a new "activist" role in international discussions about how the 1951 treaty is implemented, rather than Australia walking away from it completely.
However, Abbott denounced the government moves as a “red herring” and an “international crusade to change an international rule” as he and his Coalition counterparts refused to be drawn on their own plans towards the convention.However, Abbott denounced the government moves as a “red herring” and an “international crusade to change an international rule” as he and his Coalition counterparts refused to be drawn on their own plans towards the convention.
"Mr Rudd is always trying to internationalise problems and that's an excuse for inaction here in Australia," Abbott said in Rockhampton on Thursday."Mr Rudd is always trying to internationalise problems and that's an excuse for inaction here in Australia," Abbott said in Rockhampton on Thursday.
''I say to Mr Rudd: stop making excuses, stop trying to say this is the world's problem, it's not.''I say to Mr Rudd: stop making excuses, stop trying to say this is the world's problem, it's not.
“It's our problem and we need to take the appropriate action in this country – by this country, for this country – to stop the boats, and we need to do it now.”“It's our problem and we need to take the appropriate action in this country – by this country, for this country – to stop the boats, and we need to do it now.”
Earlier, parliamentary secretary Ed Husic said it was right to look at ways of updating the convention to meet current conditions.Earlier, parliamentary secretary Ed Husic said it was right to look at ways of updating the convention to meet current conditions.
"What it [the convention] doesn't deal with is someone hopping on a plane from Tehran, going to Indonesia ... and then hopping on a vessel to come across and do the two-day trip [to Australia] and classing themselves as a refugee," he told Sky News."What it [the convention] doesn't deal with is someone hopping on a plane from Tehran, going to Indonesia ... and then hopping on a vessel to come across and do the two-day trip [to Australia] and classing themselves as a refugee," he told Sky News.
On Wednesday, Abbott called for Rudd to recall parliament over the asylum seeker "national emergency".On Wednesday, Abbott called for Rudd to recall parliament over the asylum seeker "national emergency".
On Thursday, the opposition immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, stopped short of confirming whether the Coalition would remain a signatory to the convention in government. However, he did hint that it might remove the appeals process to the refugee review tribunal.On Thursday, the opposition immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, stopped short of confirming whether the Coalition would remain a signatory to the convention in government. However, he did hint that it might remove the appeals process to the refugee review tribunal.
Former foreign minister Gareth Evans, now president emeritus of the International Crisis Group, suggested earlier on Thursday that Australia could begin an international conversation about rescoping the United Nations refugee convention.Former foreign minister Gareth Evans, now president emeritus of the International Crisis Group, suggested earlier on Thursday that Australia could begin an international conversation about rescoping the United Nations refugee convention.
Evans doubted Australia would walk away from its obligations under the convention, but pointed to problems with the definition of refugees as feeling from persecution, in the context of the current world climate.Evans doubted Australia would walk away from its obligations under the convention, but pointed to problems with the definition of refugees as feeling from persecution, in the context of the current world climate.
"We have to recognise there have been concerns about the applicability of the convention to the circumstances of the 21st century, compared to the post World War II years," he told ABC Radio."We have to recognise there have been concerns about the applicability of the convention to the circumstances of the 21st century, compared to the post World War II years," he told ABC Radio.
The political back and forth between the federal government and the Coalition on asylum seekers and refugees has increased in recent days.The political back and forth between the federal government and the Coalition on asylum seekers and refugees has increased in recent days.
The minister for home affairs, Jason Clare, said on Tuesday that the issue had been "poisoned by politics”, and said the Australian public was “sick and tired of politicians fighting about this”.The minister for home affairs, Jason Clare, said on Tuesday that the issue had been "poisoned by politics”, and said the Australian public was “sick and tired of politicians fighting about this”.
“If we are going to fix this God-awful problem, then we need to work together,” he said.“If we are going to fix this God-awful problem, then we need to work together,” he said.
“When people are dying, the government should be given the power that it thinks it needs to stop this happening. Now it's a sad fact that we have been denied that. We have been denied that in the past by the Liberal party and by the Greens.”“When people are dying, the government should be given the power that it thinks it needs to stop this happening. Now it's a sad fact that we have been denied that. We have been denied that in the past by the Liberal party and by the Greens.”
Abbott told media in Mackay on Wednesday that he would be happy to support the prime minister in enacting changes to stop people seeking asylum by boat, specifically “temporary protection visas, to deny the people smugglers a product to sell; rigorous offshore processing at Nauru and Manus; the clear willingness to turn boats around; and actually turning boats around where it’s safe to do so; and a much better relationship with Indonesia”.Abbott told media in Mackay on Wednesday that he would be happy to support the prime minister in enacting changes to stop people seeking asylum by boat, specifically “temporary protection visas, to deny the people smugglers a product to sell; rigorous offshore processing at Nauru and Manus; the clear willingness to turn boats around; and actually turning boats around where it’s safe to do so; and a much better relationship with Indonesia”.
The Christmas Island administrator, Jon Stanhope, and the head of World Vision, Tim Costello, have called for the names of the victims to be released in an effort to “humanise” the men, women and children who die trying to seek refuge on our shores.The Christmas Island administrator, Jon Stanhope, and the head of World Vision, Tim Costello, have called for the names of the victims to be released in an effort to “humanise” the men, women and children who die trying to seek refuge on our shores.
"Human dignity is embodied in a name, a name lets us share stories and share grief … it is the engine for human understanding and emotion,” said Costello."Human dignity is embodied in a name, a name lets us share stories and share grief … it is the engine for human understanding and emotion,” said Costello.
"But we never hear their names and we never see their faces and we need to ask the government why. I can only speculate that it is not in anyone's political interest to let us hear those stories and let us form that bond.”"But we never hear their names and we never see their faces and we need to ask the government why. I can only speculate that it is not in anyone's political interest to let us hear those stories and let us form that bond.”
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