Tensions rise over new migrant rule
SCOTT Morrison has vented his anger about having to reopen the Christmas Island detention centre in response to new laws governing the medical treatment of asylum seekers.
The Prime Minister has also insisted his repeated warnings of rapists and murderers coming to Australia as a consequence of the changes will not derail a refugee resettlement deal with the US.
“I actually met with our ambassador yesterday and the US deal is fine,” he said in north Queensland yesterday.
“We are just telling the truth about what’s going on with all that.”
There are widespread fears the Australian Government’s rhetoric about an influx of dangerous criminals could imperil the people-swap deal with the US, which still has more than 700 places to fill.
US President Donald Trump has previously described the Obama-era deal as “rotten” and made it clear he resents taking in the refugees.
After inspecting Queensland cattle farms ravaged by severe floods and winds, Mr Morrison fumed about having to spend $1.4 billion over the next four years reopening the mothballed centre on Christmas Island.
“The fact that I have to do it now because the parliament made a stupid decision makes me pretty angry,” he said.
“I want to invest that money here, not on a detention centre that I now have to open because of people who made a very bad decision.” Labor has argued reopening Christmas Island is a panicked response which sends the wrong signal to people smugglers.
The medevac policy will only apply to asylum seekers and refugees who are already on Manus Island and Nauru.
Any new asylum-seeker arrivals will not have access and the Government’s boat turnback policy also maintains bipartisan support.
Opposition frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the changes would make “zero” difference to border security.
“There hasn’t been one inch of movement when it comes to border protection policy,” he said. “All that happened this week was an acknowledgment that you can be tough on people smugglers without being weak on humanity.”