Tony Abbott defends asylum seeker policies amid European crisis, New York Times criticism

Updated

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says disturbing photos of a dead Syrian child on a Turkish beach show the need to "stop the boats", as the New York Times published stinging criticism of Australia's "unconscionable" border protection methods.

Key points: Abbott says photos of drowned toddler justify need for tough border protection policies.

New York Times publishes editorial suggesting Australia's asylum seeker policy is "unconscionable"

Abbott defends hard-line policy, saying only way to stop drownings is "to stop illegal migration"

Three-year-old Aylan Kurdi's family had fled Kobane and was attempting to travel to Greece. He drowned, along with his mother Rehan and five-year-old brother Galip.

Mr Abbott said the photo, which has sparked fresh outrage over Syria's asylum seeker crisis, justified the need for tough border protection policies.

Warning: This story contains an image that may distress some readers.

"If you want to stop the deaths, if you want to stop the drownings, you've got to stop the boats," Mr Abbott told ABC Goulburn Murray local radio.

"We saw yesterday on our screens a very sad and poignant image of children tragically, tragically dead at sea in illegal migration.

"And thankfully we've stopped that in Australia because we've stopped the illegal boats, we've said to the people smugglers, 'your trade has closed down'.

"As long as people think that if they can get here they can stay here, we'll have the illegal trade, we'll have the people smugglers in business and we'll have the tragedies at sea."

The dramatic images of Aylan have raised the temperature of the debate in Europe, as leaders discuss how to deal with the growing influx of asylum seekers.

British prime minister David Cameron said he had been "deeply moved" by the image and promised the United Kingdom would fulfil its "moral responsibilities" in the crisis.

It is inexcusable that some [asylum seekers] find themselves today in situations that are more hopeless and degrading than the ones that prompted them to flee.

Mr Abbott highlighted his approach to the issue of asylum seekers as the New York Times launched an attack on his Government's policies.

The media outlet published an editorial claiming the "hardline approach" would be "unconscionable" if it was adopted by the leaders of Europe.

"Tony Abbott has overseen a ruthlessly effective effort to stop boats packed with migrants, many of them refugees, from reaching Australia's shores," the editorial read.

"His policies have been inhumane, of dubious legality and strikingly at odds with the country's tradition of welcoming people fleeing persecution and war."

The article went on to criticise Australia's practice of sending asylum seekers to immigration detention centres where alleged abuses are taking place.

"Instead of stopping the abuses, the Australian Government has sought to hide them from the world," it read.

"The world's war zones are all but certain to continue to churn out an extraordinary number of refugees and economic migrants in the years ahead.

"Those people understandably will head to the most prosperous nations, hoping to rebuild their lives.

"It is inexcusable that some [asylum seekers] find themselves today in situations that are more hopeless and degrading than the ones that prompted them to flee."

But Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Government's asylum seeker policy was both lawful and safe.

"Our policies are lawful. They are safe. And they work," he said in a statement.

"They save lives. They reduce the risks run by our border protection personnel. And they have stopped the evil people-smuggling trade to Australia.

"Together, turning back boats where it is safe to do so, offshore processing and Temporary Protection Visas have restored integrity to Australia's borders and our humanitarian migration programs."

Australia considering increasing Syrian refugee intake: Bishop

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia is considering whether to increase the number of Syrian refugees it will accept from the Middle East, following calls from Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Ms Bishop said Australia is working with other countries to find the best way to resolve the humanitarian crisis.

"This is a matter under consideration. Australia has taken about 4,500 Syrian refugees in recent times and obviously the humanitarian disaster in the Middle East, including Syria, is unprecedented," she said.

"So Australia will continue to work with other countries to see what possible solutions can be arrived at.

"Australia will play its part along with other countries and I'm sure this matter is under review by the Minister for Immigration."

Federal Cabinet Minister Barnaby Joyce said Australia has a responsibility to be doing more to help.

"There are ethnic groups in these countries. One of them of course is the Christians. There's no future for them anymore, no hope of them going back into that area," he told Macquarie Radio.

"We have a responsibility to also work out what further we can do for them because if they go back they will be killed."

Topics: refugees, immigration, community-and-society, abbott-tony, journalism, australia

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