Labor's Turnbacks On Boats

 

By Dino Cesta - 28 July 2015

OBELISK INSIGHT

 

Labor Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten should be commended on taking an unpalatable stance against the Party faithful on the issue of ‘boat turnbacks’ concerning asylum seekers.

 

Shorten put his future leadership of the Labor Party, and aspirations in becoming Prime Minister, on the line. It is a politically courageous stance, and for the first time demonstrated strong leadership on a politically sensitive and divisive issue.

 

You feel for the people desperate to flee their homeland, who are knowingly or unknowingly willing to board unseaworthy vessels and sail on dangerous seas. But it is unconscionable for any political party to encourage people to board a rickety boat for a perilous and possibly fatal voyage to Australian shores.  

 

Some Labor voters will find the boat turnback position indigestible. Philosophically, I have been challenged by the ‘boat turnback’ policy stance, and initially opposed ‘boat turnbacks’.

 

But the suite of measures endorsed by Labor delegates, following an impassioned debate at the weekend’s National Conference, including destroying the people smuggling trade, turning boats back when it is safe to do so, doubling Australia’s migration intake, greater transparency on boat intercepts, and increased funding to the United Nations for refugee efforts, is a more prudent, safer, compassion, and humane position compared to what other political parties are offering.