Fed: Backbenchers may fall in line over detention law: Ruddock

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2006
Fed: Backbenchers may fall in line over detention law: Ruddock

By Jane Bunce

CANBERRA, Aug 6 AAP - Some renegade backbenchers may have reconsidered their opposition
to controversial border protection legislation due before parliament this week, Attorney-General
Philip Ruddock says.

Up to 10 backbenchers were thought to be opposed to the government's proposed immigration
laws that ensure asylum seekers were processed offshore.

Prime Minister John Howard had hoped the legislation would be approved before parliament's
winter recess, but was forced to postpone the bill when an agreement could not be reached.

Mr Howard today said no changes would be made to the proposed legislation before it
is debated in parliament on Tuesday.

"It remains the government's policy to go ahead with the bill in the form, including
the amendments, that I announced before the parliament broke for the winter," he told
the Ten Network.

But Mr Ruddock today said MPs had been able to reflect during the winter recess.

"There has been a good deal of discussion, and I understand in that discussion a number
of changes have been made," Mr Ruddock told ABC TV.

"So I wouldn't foreclose that there may be a totally unified team, but there may well
be some that want to hang out for something further.

"But there has been a good deal of discussion between the prime minister and members
who have an interest in these questions."

Backbenchers who have raised concerns over the legislation include Judi Moylan, Petro
Georgiou, Bruce Baird, Judith Troeth and Russell Broadbent.

And three government senators - Marise Payne, Brett Mason and Nigel Scullion - put
their names to a Senate committee report, released in June, that took a harsh view of
the proposed laws.

Mr Howard would not speculate on whether he could strike a deal with the backbenchers
or his course of action, if the proposed legislation did not have the numbers to pass.

"As to the to-and-fro of when we have the handling of the debate, as you know, it's
not my custom to speculate about those things," he said.

"I deal with the issues as they come along.

"But the current intention is for debate in the House of Representatives to commence next week."

The proposed changes follow the arrival of a group of Papuan asylum seekers, 42 of
whom were granted protection visas sparking outrage from Indonesia.

Australia has previously sent asylum seekers to detention centres on Nauru and the
Papua New Guinea island of Manus under the so-called "Pacific Solution".

Opponents believe the new proposal breaches an agreement on keeping women and children
out of detention centres.

The Australian Democrats today said the Prime Minister's refusal to further amend the
laws meant the legislation should be thrown out.

"Even the very short Senate inquiry into the legislation showed quite clearly that
this legislation is inherently unjust and undermines basic rights that make up the foundation
of our democracy," Senator Andrew Bartlett said.

Senator Bartlett said the legislation was conceived in a moment of madness to appease
the Indonesian government and the situation has eased.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission today said the law was likely to
put Australia in breach of its human rights as it could not control what happened on Nauru.

"There is no question that, even with the changes proposed by the Prime Minister on
21 June 2006, the Migration Bill will mark a big backward step in Australia's treatment
of asylum seekers," Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes said.

AAP jb/jmc/de

KEYWORD: DETENTION NIGHTLEAD

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