FED: Bi-partisan border protection policy needed: Turnbull

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2009
FED: Bi-partisan border protection policy needed: Turnbull

The opposition says KEVIN RUDD should sit down with the coalition to devise new border
protection polices because Labor's soft approach isn't working.

Opposition Leader MALCOLM TURNBULL has echoed the Prime Minister's strong comments
about people smugglers .. saying it's a loathsome and evil trade.

But in the wake of yesterday's explosion aboard a boat carrying 47 asylum seekers off
northern Australia .. he says the nation must also have strong policies.

Mr TURNBULL says since the Labor government softened the border protection laws there's
been a dramatic increase in unauthorised boat arrivals.

He says .. if there's intelligence showing no relationship between these softer policies
and increasing numbers of unauthorised boat arrivals .. the government should release
it.

Mr TURNBULL says the government should also be prepared to meet with the coalition
to devise new effective policies.

AAP RTV nr/hn/af

KEYWORD: BOAT TURNBULL (SYDNEY)

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