Boat people and human rights

'Boats not the reason' for Labor poll hit | National Breaking News | News.com.au

LABOR backbencher Maxine McKew doesn't believe a hit in the polls is the result of the Government's controversial handling of the asylum seeker debate.
She thinks the latest Newspoll, which recorded a seven percentage point swing against the Rudd government on Tuesday, might just be an anomaly.

"It's an odd poll," she said.

"Yes, there has been a large swing in the primary vote to the Liberals ... but almost no shift in the prime minister's personal approval rating.

"That's quite odd if this is all about what the prime minister has been saying about tough and humane (border protection policy)."

She's awaiting the next Newspoll out next fortnight.

But opposition frontbencher Joe Hockey maintains the government has lost its way on border protection, particularly in the case of the Oceanic Viking.

"There's an Australian vessel floating north of Australia that is effectively a floating three-star resort," he said.

"Compared to Indonesia and some of the camps in Indonesia, these people do not want to get off the boat.
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"We need to get a solution out of that."

Indonesian officials are expected to decide tomorrow whether to allow Australia more time to persuade the 78 asylum seekers off the boat.

Security clearance for the vessel to remain in Indonesia expires tomorrow night, with no word yet on an extension.

"Kevin Rudd said he had an Indonesian solution, he said two weeks ago that he had solved the matter, (but) the matter is still unsolved," Mr Hockey said.

"Sooner or later he has to make a hard decision."