The Federal Labor Member for Page should cross the floor when parliament votes on the Gillard government’s Malaysia off-shore asylum seeker processing plan if she’s genuinely opposed to it.
The MP told the Northern Star newspaper that asylum seekers should be processed on-shore which was the Labor party’s policy platform.
“If Ms Saffin doesn’t go all the way and cross the floor in parliament when the Malaysia asylum seeker bill is voted on, it will just prove she is all talk and no action,” the Nationals Duty Senator for Page, Fiona Nash, said.
“If she doesn’t cross the floor, then she can’t be taken seriously.
“It is our job, as elected representatives, to stand up for our constituents and electorates and face the consequences within the party room if need be. I’ve been there, when crossing the floor on a bill related to up-front tax breaks on carbon sinks in 2008 and was subsequently demoted.
“I challenge Janelle Saffin to do the same – it will be a test of her convictions.”
Senator Nash said she supports the Coalition’s plan for off-shore processing at Nauru in which the welfare and protection needs of asylum seekers will be met, unlike Labor’s Malaysia plan. The High Court recently found that there weren’t the protections in place in Malaysia that anyone could rely on.
Further, Nauru is a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees and is introducing laws giving effect and support to these protections. The Australian government would be directly involved with the processing centre to ensure these standards are upheld.
The Coalition believes the combination of Nauru, the re-introduction of temporary protection visas and a willingness to turn boats around where it is safe to do so will stop the boats.
It will consider any legislation put forward by the government in relation to offshore processing, which is expected to be introduced to parliament next week.
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