Kevin Rudd's that all boat arrivals "from now on" would never be resettled in Australia, and subject to a jerry-rigged offshore dumping deal with the Papua New Guinea government has shocked many.
Every asylum seeker that arrives by boat for at least the next 12 months would be sent to Papua New Guinea, with no cap on the number. In exchange, Australia would pump money into PNG's government for apparent health and education reforms.
Tony Abbott had little to say in a press conference after the announcement, held with Liberal immigration spokesperson Scott Morrison and deputy leader Julie Bishop. Struggling to find ground to the right of the extreme move by Rudd, Abbott said he "welcomed" the policy, but claimed it "would not work with Mr Rudd in charge".
"Do you trust the political party that closed down Manus Island? Or do you trust the party that is the original and the best when it comes to stopping the boats."
Greens leader Christine Milne and immigration spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young outlined the many human rights violations inherent in the new plan. Milne said the plan was "ruthless and ... repugnant". She said Rudd had "leap frogged" Abbott in his bid beat the Liberal leader at the next election.
When Rudd was deposed by Julia Gillard in 2010, this was not to do: "If I return as the leader of the Government and Prime Minister, I will be very clear of one thing, this party and Government will not be lurching to the right on the question of asylum seekers."
Refugee rights groups around the country have begun to respond with snap-actions and statements. The Refugee Action Coalition said the government's accompanying plan to would cause serious harm to refugees.
It has planned a . The Refugee Action Collectives in and have announced actions.
UPDATE: NATIONWIDE PROTESTS:
- 12PM SAT 20 JULY @ TOWN HALL
- 12PM SAT 20 JULY @ STATE LIBRARY
- 2PM SUN 21 JULY @ PARLIAMENT HOUSE
- 9AM MON 22 JULY @ KEVIN RUDD'S OFFICE - 653 WYNNUM RD, MORNINGSIDE
- 12PM SAT 27 JULY @ PETRIE PLAZA
- 12PM SAT 20 JULY @ FORREST CHASE, PERTH CBD
Oh by the way, this won't stop boats. We still haven't given people ANY ALTERNATIVE to getting on a boat: we're just punishing them for it.
— Jessie Taylor (@taylor_jessie)
Independent bodies report conditions for seekers on Manus Isl are inhumane, degrading & amount to arbitrary, unlawful detention
— David Manne (@david_manne)
A national day of shame on refugees. A rush to the right, a rush to refugee cruelty so that Kevin Rudd can rush to the polls
— Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8)
Vessels "from now on" will be subject to new rule - Tony Burke. Manus will be brought "back up to standard" to detain women & children again
— Jay Fletcher (@JayFletchers)
"helping" means paying 100s of millions annually, much of which disappears into corruption and mining interests.
— Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein)
PNG with 37% of its people living below poverty line. GDP 134th & 168th for life expectancy in the world can take but we can't?
— ASRC (@ASRC1)