http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/rudd-to-turn-back-boatp...

KEVIN Rudd has taken a tough line on border security, warning that a Labor government will turn the boats back and deter asylum-seekers, using the threat of detention and the nation's close ties with Indonesia.

In an interview with The Australian, the Opposition Leader advocated a layered approach to border security based on "effective laws, effective detention arrangements, effective deterrent posture vis-a-vis vessels approaching Australian waters".

This would mean close co-operation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Indonesian Government.

Mr Rudd said Labor would take asylum-seekers who had been rescued from leaky boats to Christmas Island, would turn back seaworthy vessels containing such people on the high seas, and would not lift the current intake of African refugees.

"You'd turn them back," he said of boats approaching Australia, emphasising that Labor believed in an "orderly immigration system" enforced by deterrence.

"You cannot have anything that is orderly if you allow people who do not have a lawful visa in this country to roam free," he said. "That's why you need a detention system. I know that's politically contentious, but one follows from the other.

"Deterrence is effective through the detention system but also your preparedness to take appropriate action as the vessels approach Australian waters on the high seas."

Mr Howard said yesterday he believed Mr Rudd "would change the country" if elected.

"When there's been a change of government, there's been a profound change in the direction of the country," he said. "Now if the country were going in the wrong direction, it would be understandable that people would want change, but if it's going in the right direction, why would you change something that's going in the right direction?"

But in his interview with The Australian, Mr Rudd rejected or played down a series of social policies and issues that Labor and the Greens had pursued for years during the Coalition Government.

any leftards who wants to defend Rudd's attack on Abbott - refer them back to this thread

John S wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 10:32am:


Howard said this whilst in his 12th year as PM.
He knew the writing was on the wall, and people just wanted a change.
The direction Howard took this country was one of prosperity, and he had the will and skill to break the business model of the people smugglers.
Definitely not the wrong direction.

According to the polls we are in for another hung parliament unless Mr Rudd can grab another 1-2% and policies like being hard on illegals could just do that.

first of all kev would have to admit he did do something wrong.. he made a blunder he single handedly helped the people smugglers to get back into action..


can anyone see this person doing that????

not on your life..

arrogance doesnt go out of the door easily..

chicken_lipsforme wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 10:04am:



Or you could tell the truth that after the election he found that it was not safe, practical or legal under international law.

adelcrow wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 10:59am:

Another hung parliament means another Labor government, given the likes of Katter, Wilkie and the Greens would prefer Labor over phoney Tony. Maybe the indies could pull a black Jack Mcewan and demand Turnbull be leader of the Libs for their support, too funny.

Rudd is a brilliant tactician and enjoys a much higher level of personal support than Abbot. Labor will get that 2 percent, if not more. I personally would have voted Abbot over Gillard but now Rudds back will vote for the ALP, I know many swinging voters like me will now do the same.