Boatpeople deaths pressure Australian asylum policy

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - Australia came under pressure on Friday to toughen its asylum policy after three asylum seekers were killed and more than 30 seriously injured in an explosion on an Indonesian boat heading for the Australian coast.

Conservative opposition politicians blamed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's softening of Australia's asylum policy for a surge in boatpeople, with one going further and linking the deaths on Thursday to the government's policy.

"You can't announce a softer policy and then expect people not to lose their lives through people-smuggling efforts, which is, of course, all about cash," opposition immigration spokesman Sharman Stone told Sky News.

The latest boat, carrying 49 people believed to be from Afghanistan, was detected by the Australian navy at Ashmore Reef, between Australia and Indonesia, and was drifting under the watch of the military when the explosion occurred.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSYD398452

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Typical wacky conservative thinking: Kindness is actually cruel!

[WriteDown]

1. Australia has always had a rock solid immigration policy

Helped by the fact they are surrounded by water. I was unaware they were softening it.