Australiaâ„¢s conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott has pledged tougher immigration policies in dealing with refugees and asylum seekers.
“This is our country and we determine who comes here,” Abbott told reporters on Friday.
Abbottâ„¢s comments came ahead of the national elections due in September 2013.
He said he would appoint a military commander to deal with asylum boats if he wins the upcoming vote.
Abbotâ„¢s policies would also include giving only temporary visas to refugees, and blocking appeal rights for failed asylum claims.
Asylum is set to be a significant issue for the upcoming polls. The debate comes especially after a sharp rise in the number of people arriving there by boat in recent months.
Last month, the government announced a controversial plan to send the country’s asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea. On July 19, Australiaâ„¢s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Papua New Guinea counterpart, Peter Oâ„¢Neill, signed the Regional Settlement Arrangement in the Australian city of Brisbane in connection with the hardline policy.
Under the new policy, those who pay human smugglers to take them to Australia on illegal boats will be sent to Papua New Guinea.
The radical immigration policy, however, does not seem to be working. Hundreds of refugees have arrived since the directive was issued.
Australia has become a desired destination for Asian immigrants who are seeking a better life. But over the years, hundreds of them have lost their lives because their overcrowded boats were capsized in rough waters.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has also expressed concern about Australiaâ„¢s decision to send asylum-seekers arriving by boat to Papua New Guinea.
Hundreds of activists have held several mass rallies in Sydney and other major cities to protest at the Australian government’s new harsh measures and opposition’s hard stance against asylum seekers.
Opinion polls suggest Prime Minister Ruddâ„¢s Labor Party could lose the election to Abbott. Economy, asylum seekers and climate change are among key issues expected to dominate Australiaâ„¢s election campaigns.
JR/KA
Republished from: Press TV