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Bob Lord on Too much stranger danger Putting too much fear into children is right, they don't appear to be able to play outside anymore, certainly can't enjoy a ... more
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steve on Bob Katter's boys Well Queensland its quite plain to see our last votes did not count so lets give this lady our vote this time as honesty and ... more
mick on Ipswich looking for compensation It will be interesting on how The Blight of Qld Bligh will pay for any compensation to anyone when they have some $80bil of ... more
Richard on Ipswich looking for compensation @BobP.S. Cando also advised Anna that the levy bank at Roma should be raised after talking with the locals there 12 months ... more
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roger on Ipswich looking for compensation Dick, you really love (loved) those ants didn't you, did you give them names like 'atom' 'adam' or 'whitey'? i can still ... more
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Paul Ravaillion on QLD Floods Commission of Inquiry It is pretty clear that the flood could have been avoided from the dam by the early release of waters say on Saturday, this ... more
Paul Ravaillion on Flood class action? The trouble with compensation to flood victims may be to what extent did the DAM flood the premises, I believe it is maybe ... more
John of Caloundra on Damned dam inquiry Mick, you say the majority of Qlders did not vote them in: who is this "them" you refer to? more
John of Caloundra on The big freeze Consumption tax Richard? Why is it that you are the only person on earth that refers to it thus?There must be a reason.And ... more
James W on Damned dam inquiry Richard, I'd like you to show me where I said this, "If the Bligh Mob were such good economic managers as you would have me ... more
Richard on The big freeze No one has said that the climate isn't changing JOC.Just as the continents continue to drift and the the solar winds and ... more
Bob Lord on Lack of memory Loss of memory is a fact of life for people as they start to age. It doesn't mean they are trying their best to wreck ... more
Bob Lord on Ipswich looking for compensation Gees it hard.Dear RichardDoh!Dear MickYou may point out to me exactly where I took a shot at Cando if you wish. I can't find ... more
mick on Damned dam inquiry @Cry I also agree that these people who suffered need to be compensated that I believe was never questioned. The fact is who ... more

Who's leading the Immigration debate?

Posted by: Michael Pachi | 16 October, 2009 - 2:20 PM

Who's leading the Immigration debate for the Opposition ?

As 1800 boat people reached Australian waters this year, the shadow Immigration Minister Sharman Stone dutifully drove the Coalition's line that winding back Howard government policy, such as the Pacific Solution, is resulting in an influx of asylum seekers.

But the situation drastically changed over the weekend when the Prime Minister called the Indonesian President and asked him to order the interception of a boatload of around 250 Sri Lankan Tamils heading to Australia.

For Kevin Rudd it was vital the Tamils didn't reach our shores, otherwise the Coalition's argument that Labor is soft on border security would start to resonate with voters. A sentiment echoed in a recent poll by the Lowy Institute that Australians are concerned about the increase in illegal arrivals.

For the Liberal Party it has become a chance to push its rhetoric on Immigration and try and gain some momentum among disinterested voters, following its very public brawl over an Emissions Trading Scheme.

But it doesn't appear that Dr Stone is the favoured spokesperson on the issue, even though she holds the shadow Immigration portfolio. Instead veteran Liberal colleagues on the backbench have taken the lead role.

Former Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock warned of a "pipeline" of 10,000 asylum seekers ready to reach our shores and another former Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews says if the Opposition wins the next election it may reinstate temporary protection visas.

It's fair enough for people like Ruddock and Andrews to give their opinions on the issue given they were at the heart of the Howard government's controversial policy; but it would seem they have gone beyond giving an opinion and have taken a policy lead on the issue leaving Dr Stone sidelined.

Some Liberals say they're concerned the Opposition could be outflanked by the government if they don't take a tough stance; others believe a more balanced approach is needed and Dr Stone, a moderate, is in that camp.

There's talk now Dr Stone will be replaced for someone who'll take a tougher approach on Immigration and border security issues with Liberal hardman Tony Abbott touted as the person to be elevated to that role.

What are your thoughts about the way the Liberals are handling this issue, do they have a point or is party's argument irrelevant in 2009 ?

Blog comments

Well P.M. it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now please admit your error!! Howard's govenment had the correct measures - your policies "strong & humane" in the end are an open invitation to all people smugglers.

zammab Thursday 12 November, 2009 - 9:01 AM
I Feel for these people but at the end of the day they have paid alot of money to bypass our system. What makes it worse is if they were all genuine refugees then the very first country they came to they would apply for asylum NOT travel in some cases across six countries to make it to Australia, and why do they do this? because thanks to the politically correct labor party we have now become the 'soft target' capital of the world. I can not understand why anyone who can afford to pay people smugglers needs tax payers money for legal assistance ect. The answer is simple turn the boats around and then the people smugglers will get the message like they did before.

Darryl Monday 19 October, 2009 - 10:25 AM