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CHRIS BOWEN MP

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP

JASON CLARE MP MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER FOR JUSTICE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE MATERIEL

MEDIA RELEASE

26 April 2012

22 BOATS AND NEGATIVE TONY ABBOTT UNMOVED

Despite an increase in boat arrivals since Tony Abbott rejected offshore processing and a chance to implement his own Nauru policy, the Coalition leader continues to stand in the way of action to stop the flow of boats, the Government said today.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and Minister for Home Affairs, Jason Clare MP, said another asylum seeker boat was intercepted overnight - the 22nd since Mr Abbott chose negativity over the national interest.

“Tony Abbott is standing in the way of offshore processing, standing in the way of stopping people risking their lives at sea,” Mr Bowen said.

“The Australian people have had enough of negative politics and they look to their leaders to be able to deliver solutions in the national interest. The Government has offered to cooperate - we offered Nauru - but the Coalition is not prepared to accept any compromise at all.

“People can have no choice but to conclude that Mr Abbott prefers to see more boats arrive because he believes it’s in his political interest.”

Mr Clare said the boats would keep coming while Tony Abbott continued to stop the Government’s legislation to introduce offshore processing.

“Working together we can help stop people dying at sea. We can pass legislation to introduce offshore processing,” Mr Clare said.

“If Mr Abbott is serious about stopping the boats he must stop saying no and pass our legislation to allow asylum seekers to be processed offshore in Malaysia and Nauru.”

Media Contacts: Bill Kyriakopoulos 0400 510 802 / Laura Stevens 0432 833 769 (Bowen) Korena Flanagan 0418 251 316 (Clare)