Fed: Labor backbench disharmony over boat stance = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2001
Fed: Labor backbench disharmony over boat stance = 2

Mr Quick called for a speedy resolution to the situation after crack commandos yesterday
boarded the Tampa when it entered Australian waters.

"The big problem is Indonesia won't play ball with us and until they do, you know,
we've got a sort of Flying Dutchman ship floating around in the middle of the Indian Ocean
and no-one seems to know what the hell we can do," he said.

Mr Quick could not say how many backbenchers were unhappy with Labor's stance, but
former Labor and now Independent MP Andrew Theophanous said it was at least 10.

Senior federal backbencher Colin Hollis inflamed the debate further today by calling
for an easing in the policy of compulsory detention and said all sides of politics should
be more sympathetic to boat people.

Mr Theophanous said he was aware Mr Hollis and supporters had been unhappy with Labor's
immigration policy for 18 months and called on his former party to show some heart.

"It is time the Labor Party really stood up on this issue and we have to as a nation
take our share of these refugees compared to other countries in the world," he told reporters.

AAP kmh/was

KEYWORD: BOAT LABOR QUICK 2 CANBERRA

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