Premier: 'Howard got immigration right'

news.com.au ^ | 16th September 2009

[naturalman1975]

WESTERN Australian Premier Colin Barnett says former prime minister John Howard "had it right" with his policies on asylum seekers.

Mr Barnett said Australia had to give a very clear message that you cannot get into the country by illegally means.

After a boat ferrying suspected asylum seekers was intercepted off Australia's northwest coast on Tuesday - the fourth such arrival in a week - Mr Barnett said people smugglers were aware of Australia's policy changes on asylum seekers.

Mr Barnett said Australia was not alone in encountering influxes of asylum seekers, "but we do need strong border security".

"I think John Howard had it right," he said.

"I think we do have to give a very clear message that you cannot get into Australia by illegal entry. It's not going to work. It's going to be closed off before you get here."

.....

The Labor Government last year relaxed the Howard government's laws covering mandatory detention of asylum seekers - including children - under the Pacific solution.

.....

Mr Barnett also said he could not understand why Australian authorities were taking so long to release any findings on the explosion that killed three Afghan refugees on a boat in April.

The Premier said at the time it was understood that the refugees on the boat spread petrol which ignited, causing the explosion.

The then minister for home affairs, Bob Debus, said at the time the Government did not want to speculate on the cause of explosion.

[GeronL]

Have you ever visited Brookesnews.com? Are their any conservative Australian sites you can think of?