Court rules against 'turn back the boats' policy
Kirsty Needham
February 25, 2012

A EUROPEAN court verdict that Italy breached international law by pushing back asylum seekers at sea highlights the perils of the Coalition's policy to ''turn back the boats'', the Greens and federal government said yesterday.   

Italy and Australia are the most prominent countries to have implemented push-back policies to stem asylum seeker boat arrivals. Labor opposes the practice, but it is Coalition policy.   

Following the ruling in the European Court of Human Rights, Italy must pay compensation of €15,000 ($18,700) to 24 Somalian and Eritrean asylum seekers who were on three boats carrying 200 people pushed back to Libya in 2009.


Amnesty International called the judgment historic. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said it was ''a turning point''.

''The court's decision is yet another example of why the Coalition's inhumane and illegal policy to push back boats to Indonesia should never be applied,'' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

A spokesman for the Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, said: "This yet again confirms the bloody-mindedness of Tony Abbott in arrogantly spruiking a tow-back policy that our own navy says is dangerous and risks lives … and is now found to be a breach of human rights.''   

The opposition's immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, stood by the policy yesterday.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/court-rules-against-turn-back-the-boats-policy-20120224-1tti3.html#ixzz1nOPk82S3

GOOD -- its all good... the so-called 'policy' - is exactly as decribed by our High Court , and NOW a Euro Court has agreed.

There is NO DOUBT that such policies are illegal, and inhumanitarian, and all the Whiners need a re-think.
Some standards in Australia are so abysmally degraded that it shames us as a Country.

And guess what... it's getting OUT.  Not our disgusting secret to hide anymore.
Lets all move ON in a positive way.

Give up your fear and hatred.

I support Amnesty International in all efforts world-wide - to improve the 'lot' of people crushed by their circumstances ( political imprisonment, torture, suspension of Law). All too much of which is prevalent in Australian policies. This is UNDENIABLE.

OH thank you High Court.!

Not worth an answer is it.!

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 11:22pm:




You wouldn't be trying to side track the thread considering a logical debate is a losing debate for the anti humane brigade.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 11:30pm:



It is cheaper to process Australia's refugees on the mainland and by doing so the old parties could start working on issues more pressing like when are we withdrawing our troops out of Afghanistan so to reduce pressure on one of the push factors.

____ wrote on Feb 25^th, 2012 at 11:33pm:


It probably is cheaper.
But I only agree with compensation (re- the op) if it's also acceptable for homeless or jobless Europeans or Australians to get compensation if they were rejected from a country they rocked up to.

Doesn't matter how much you seek to trivialise the Ruling by The High Court of Australia on this matter. IT STANDS.


Your pathetic ripostes  are simply that. Pathetic.

SO BD ? Got your paddle yet???  I'll send you off happily ...wishing all that experience comes your way.!

well why don't you try??