Fed: Labor attacks decision to excise islands
Labor says the federal government's decision to temporarily excise four islands offthe West Australian coast to forestall some suspected boatpeople was absurd.
Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK says the four islands -- off Carnarvon in WesternAustralia -- will be reinstated this week after a vessel thought to contain asylum seekersturned out to be a fishing boat.
Parliament's risen for the year, but the government was able to use regulations toexcise the Bernier, Dorre, Dirk Hartog and Faure Islands over the weekend.
The move meant that any asylum seekers landing on the islands would have been processedat Nauru, Christmas Island or Manus Island in Papua New Guinea under the so-called Pacificsolution.
Opposition immigration spokeswoman JULIA GILLARD has told ABC radio the government'sdecision was an absurdity based on concerns about a boat that turned out to be a fishingvessel.
She says the issue shows how much trouble governments can get into when they try toavoid the proper parliamentary processes.
AAP RTV kmh/smb/jmt
KEYWORD: BOAT ISLANDS (CANBERRA)
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