Insight (1995)

Stopping the Boats (2010x13)

Uitzenddatum: Jun 01, 2010

This week an alleged people smuggler speaks exclusively to Insight about why he thinks more boats are arriving. And his comments are explosive. He says that if Australia wants to stop the boats, they shouldn't accept any more people. "People see Australia as easy. After three or four months it's done. The important thing is we definitely get citizenship. We will become Australian citizens immediately." The Opposition echoes this sentiment that the Rudd Government policy is soft and they have pledged a return to Temporary Protection Visas, off-shore processing and the possible turning back of boats. Human rights activists are angry with both the Rudd Government and the Opposition saying that Australia is breaching international law and returning to the Howard era policy of indefinite detention. A recent Newspoll shows that 44% of people believe that the Coalition would best handle the issue of asylum seekers arriving into Australia compared with only 26% of people supporting Labor. But how should the Government deal with asylum seekers and will the new laws stop the boats and put an end to people smuggling?