SYDNEY – THE DEATH of at least 28 asylum seekers, who drowned when their boat was smashed on rocks on Christmas Island, has renewed pressure on Australian prime minister Julia Gillard to soften the country’s asylum policy and may strain her one-seat minority government.
Ms Gillard yesterday conceded that one of Australia’s most divisive political issues, which has determined past elections, was once again on the agenda.
But she sought to take the sting out of the renewed debate on asylum seekers, which in the past has been tinged with xenophobia, and appease her government’s key supporters.
“Inevitably there will be public debate relating to asylum seekers and refugees. I am in favour of frank and open national conversations about policy,” said Ms Gillard, who cut short her Christmas holidays to deal with the tragedy.
The prime minister took the unusual step of announcing that a bipartisan political group would review all reports into the tragedy and advise on any changes to the asylum policy.
Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, whose support won Ms Gillard’s Labor a second term in August, earlier demanded she explain why the Indonesian timber boat, carrying Iraqis, was not intercepted on Wednesday, like other asylum boats, in open seas.
The Australian Greens party, another key member of Ms Gillard’s minority government, has also renewed calls for a “more humane” approach to boatpeople and a regional asylum processing centre.
But both Mr Oakeshott and the Greens, who favour a softer line on asylum policy, are not expected to risk the government’s future, although Ms Gillard will need to balance their concerns with those of Labor hardliners.
“Rumours and allegations are shooting through communities . . . with the worst being that government authorities allowed this to happen,” Mr Oakeshott said.
Ms Gillard said bad weather meant the ill-fated boat was not detected until it was in trouble, but added that all the facts would not be clear until police and custom and border protection agencies held inquiries.
The issue of how to handle boatpeople arrivals, while small in number compared with those crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, is an emotive subject in Australia and was a major issue at August national elections.
Ms Gillard has previously proposed a regional asylum processing centre, possibly in East Timor, to curb boatpeople arrivals. More than 130 boats arrived in 2010.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Wednesday’s tragedy could rise to more than 50, say rescue officials, with only 42 people rescued from a possible 100 passengers.
Australia intercepts boatpeople in the Indian Ocean, detaining them on its remote Christmas Island for processing, which prevents asylum seekers gaining greater legal rights by landing on the Australian mainland.