He's best described as a centrist leading a moderately conservative party. He's from the left hand edge of the Liberal Party, but calling him a leftist probably goes a little too far. What he is, though, is timid. He won't stand up for anything. He just wants to be popular - and it isn't working. :)
I see the problem with the Muslim boat people the same as or illegal alien issues on our southern border.
It really is important to understand that there is no actual reason to think these people are Muslim and very good reasons to think they are not. People seem to just be assuming 'refugee = Muslim'. In actual fact, there are large numbers of refugees who are Christians fleeing Muslim oppression, and these people probably include a lot of those. It won't be said openly because of legal and political issues in Australia (the left here - and more significantly the High Court - would go bananas is anybody officially said we were classifying refugees by religion and treating them differently on that basis).
Not buying they are Christians from Indonesia! Especially when there is proof that Obama Really would not agree to Christian refugees!
If you doubt - put this theory to work: Results prove actual intention!