Asia-Pacific

Australian opposition calls to lift refugee intake

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-22 14:08

A boat laden with refugees is driven onto rocks at Christmas Island in this still image taken from video Dec 15, 2010. Twenty-seven asylum seekers have died and dozens may be missing after heavy waves smashed their timber boat onto rocks on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean off Australia on Wednesday, sinking the boat and throwing people into stormy seas. [Photo/Agencies]

CANBERRA, Australia- Australian opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Wednesday said he would consider a modest expansion of Australia's annual intake of refugees.

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In the wake of last week's boat accident on Christmas Island, which killed at least 30 people, Abbott said it was another poor policy performance from Labor, which he labeled "quite possibly the worst government in living memory."

He said an increase on refugee intake should be on the cards.

"We could look at a modest expansion of our refugee intake ... move it up to 15,000 provided people are coming through the front door," he told Macquarie Radio Network on Wednesday.

In 2009/10 a total of 13,770 visas were granted, of which 9,236 visas were granted under the offshore component and 4,534 visas were granted under the onshore component.

The government set up a committee after the boat crash to examine asylum seekers policy.

Abbott has refused to work with the government on asylum seekers through its multi-party standing group, saying the government must first admit it needs to change policy.

"We don't need another committee here, what we need is a new policy," Abbott said.

"If (Prime Minister) Julia Gillard is magnanimous to accept ... that the government has been on the wrong track, we will help.

"There will be no crowing from us."

Abbott said boat arrivals, and the subsequent risk to lives, will continue to increase without action from the government.