Media Release

Gillard's never never East Timor 'solution' descends further into farce

Wednesday 28th July 2010

A statement from the East Timorese Foreign Minister today that he is still waiting for details on Julia Gillard’s so-called ‘East Timor solution’ reveals the extent of farce Julia Gillard’s never never solution in East Timor has descended to, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison said today.

“Foreign Minister da Costa today confirmed that Julia Gillard’s proposal for a regional processing centre in East Timor still does not exist. As East Timor’s Prime Minister Gusmao said at the time, the answer remains ‘what proposal?’” Mr Morrison said.

“Julia Gillard’s never never solution in East Timor is an election con,” he said.

“The East Timorese Parliament has already rejected the idea and now the Foreign Minister of East Timor has made it clear that Julia Gillard has no plan - there are no details, no timeline and no commitment. There’s not even a real discussion.

“Prime Minister Gillard and her Ministers should today come clean and tell Australians the truth – a regional processing centre will never never happen under Labor.

“As opposed to Labor’s attempt to con the Australian people during the election, the Coalition has a real action plan to stop the boats.

“If Julia Gillard was serious she would immediately pick up the phone with the President of Nauru and commence discussions on reopening the Nauru processing centre which was paid for by Australian taxpayers.

“The Coalition’s meetings in recent days with senior members of the Nauru Government and their Parliament, including Foreign Minister Dr Kieren Keke and Opposition Leader Ludwig Scotty, show Nauru is willing and able to negotiate.

“Despite Ms Gillard’s misleading comments and excuses in Sunday’s debate, the political situation in Nauru does not exempt President Marcus Stephen from signing a deal. He has full constitutional authority to act.

“Julia Gillard’s botched handing of offshore processing for illegal boat arrivals at every turn raises serious questions of competence in her ability to manage Australian national interests on these important matters in our region” Mr Morrison said.