Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald

M2542001
30 August 2001

BEAZLEY OPPOSES TOUGH BORDER LAWS

Northern Australians will be appalled that Labor opposed legislation designed to allow Australia to enforce its borders and control its territorial waters, Federal Regional Services Minister and northern Senator, Ian Macdonald said today.

"Kim Beazley didn't have the ticker to stand up to the left wing of his own party and the noisy interest groups on this vital legislation to give more teeth to the Howard Government's determination to fight illegal incursions into Australia's waters," Senator Macdonald said.

"Labor pretended to support the Government's firm stand on illegal immigrants because they knew they didn't have to do the hard work."

"But as soon as they had to take a stand, as soon as they had to vote to demonstrate that commitment to the Australian people, they went soft. Kim Beazley didn't have the ticker to make the hard decision."

"Northern Australians who live and work at the front line of this flood of illegal immigration will be appalled that Labor folded so quickly in the face of pressure from lobby groups far removed from the action."

"The backflip from supporting the Government at 2pm - when they only had to talk - to opposing the Government at 7pm - when they had to vote - is astonishing."

"This is a clear demonstration that while the Howard Government takes this issue seriously and will make the hard decisions, a Beazley led Labor Government would let illegal vessels carrying illegal immigrants flaunt our borders with impunity.'

"Mr Beazley demonstrated tonight that he doesn't have the ticker that national leadership requires," Senator Macdonald said.

"At the first sign of a crisis Beazley went running with his tail between his legs."

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