3AW - Fairfax Radio Network

What we're talking about

'The Government should resign'

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 1 September, 2011 - 8:54 AM
Julia Gillard with another mess to clean up

Neil Mitchell says the Gillard Government should resign.

He has only ever taken this position once before in more than 40 years in media.

Watch his carefully-considered editorial below and let us know what you think.

Your comments could be read on air.

Share

RELATED AUDIO:

PLAY: Gillard's press conference, the legalities and what's next?

PLAY: Former ALP Minister Graham Richardson predicts when the government will fall

PLAY: Refugee advocate Marion Le, staunch anti-Howard woman, fed up with Julia Gillard

PLAY: David Manne on the momentous High Court victory

LATEST: The Coalition has rejected suggestions that all offshore processing of asylum seekers is illegal, claiming Nauru is still a viable option.

The Gillard Government is considering re-opening the Nauru detention facility after the High Court rejected its asylum deal with Malaysia.

But it's understood Labor has received emergency legal advice suggesting asylum seekers CAN'T be transferred to any other country.

Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says that's not right.

THURSDAY: Federal Cabinet is urgently seeking solutions to its asylum seeker crisis after the High Court ruled the Malaysian swap deal unlawful.

It's already ruled out asking Malaysia to change its domestic laws to get around the ruling.

But legal advice is being sought and all other options, including Nauru, are being considered.

Meanwhile, refugee lawyer David Manne says the ruling casts doubt on the legality of ALL off-shore processing. 

WEDNESDAY: The High Court has ruled the Gillard Government's Malaysia deal is unlawful because it doesn't adequately address human rights concerns.

This means Australia will NOT be able to transfer 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia, but we'll still have to accept 4,000 refugees from the country.

More than 300 boatpeople who've arrived since the deal was announced must now remain in Australia.

But legal expert Don Rothwell from the Australian National University says the deal may still go ahead if the Government changes the structure of its policy.

STEVE MURPHY, WEDNESDAY: The Full bench of the High Court has delivered a body blow to the Federal Government by rejecting its so called Malaysian Solution whereby 800 asylum seekers arriving by boat to Australia would be taken to Malaysia and in return Australia would take 4,000 certified refugees from Malaysia.

While this decision has significant ramifications for illegal boat arrivals now and in the near term, it strikes at the heart of this Government’s credibility and policy competence.

On the issue of border protection the Gillard Government is now teetering on becoming if it hasn’t ready become a laughing stock.

From the failed East Timor proposal, to the Government’s obstinate refusal to consider Nauru or Papua New Guinea as alternative third country processing centres, there is now a real sense of crisis enveloping this administration. 

Effectively the Government’s asylum seeker policy is in tatters and the prime Minister has only herself to blame.

Ms Gillard has previously made much about third countries being signatories to the UN Convention on Human Rights to criticise the former Howard Government, but sacrificed that principle in a knee jerk effort to do a deal with Malaysia and get the boat people issue of the front page.

Indeed the High Court found today that Malaysia is not legally bound to provide the access and protections the Migration Act requires for a valid declaration. The court noted that Malyasia is not a party to the Refugees Convention or its protocol.

The Government’s confused and often erratic approach to border protection has resulted in a total policy failure. Given even the Greens have opposed the policy, it might well be time for them and the other independents to rise above political self interest, take a long hard look at the shambles we are witnessing and ask themselves whether Australians deserve a fresh opportunity to go to the polls.

The 'critic in chief' on 3AW

Tony Abbott will not run commentary 'on himself' Opposition leader Tony Abbott says he's not prepared to say why voters have warmed to the Coalition, but not to him personally. Click on the image of Abbott on the right to listen to his full interview with Neil Mitchell.

 

Gillard tangled in Old AWU scandal

Gillard Julia Gillard is said to be 'furious' about an article in The Australian which implicates her involvement in ex-boyfriend Bruce Wilson's embezzlement of union funds. Listen to Neil Mitchell here, who reckons Gillard has reacted 'terribly' to this situation.

 

3AW Mornings with Neil Mitchell

Neil Mitchell Neil is one of Australia’s most experienced journalists with success in newspapers, radio and television. He was one of the youngest editors of a daily metropolitan newspaper, The Herald. Enter Neil's highlights page for videos. replays and news.

Blog comments Your Say

  • @Jan. If you've really got a job what were you doing on the internet posting on a forum at 11.24 on a monday morning. If I was your boss you'd be out on the street without a reference. :p

    Mylene Monday 26 September, 2011 - 8:32 PM
    =====================

    Maybe she works afternoon shift or has a day off.
    What about you, do you have a job or you waste your time trying to sound clever?

    Peggy Monday 14 May, 2012 - 3:52 PM
  • All I have to say is WOW! I saw my results juat after 5days of spell caster by this spell caster with this email; vudoospell@gmail.com. Not only is he very nice, but very professional. He tries to get to your spell as soon as he can, and if you have any questions he answers them very quickly. He is not a waste of time or money, if your ready to make a change in your life He is the right person to go to. If your looking for love I recommend his Consult his Love Spell. good luck and I know you will be as happy as I am with the results. because that was what i ordered for and it works well for me and my ex.

    tinlich Monday 14 May, 2012 - 12:52 PM
  • @Jan. If you've really got a job what were you doing on the internet posting on a forum at 11.24 on a monday morning. If I was your boss you'd be out on the street without a reference. :p

    Mylene Monday 26 September, 2011 - 8:32 PM
  • .Mylene I hear the sound of your one brain cell fracturing if you do not like the commentary from 3AW don't listen to it, and you sound far more like a red neck than any other commenter on this forum, people are rightly concerned about where this country is heading and so am I as am seeing business folding, carbon Emission tax will put further hardship on business to cope, add the cost to the tax payer of illegal arrivals the county economy is going down the toilet fast, plus the cost of all the other idiotis schemes Labor has pushed through in the last few years.
    You might be happy sitting on your backside doing nothing but some us like having a job, and need to work to keep the ever increasing bills paid

    Jan Monday 26 September, 2011 - 11:24 AM
  • Peter B Sunday 4 September, 2011 - 9:34 AM - you've established they're in Opposition & you managed that conclusion all by yourself? Congratulations~! Who said Liberal supporters weren't sharp as a tack~! Speaking of 'gooses & fools' - by all means avoid the issue completely. Why allow a miniscule issue such as the truth to get in the way of another irrelevant Liberal rant~! NEXT~!

    Lenny Sunday 25 September, 2011 - 3:38 PM
  • Agree in part with (red neck) Mr. Mitchell, but ask the question: What has an alternative Liberal (red neck)Party as Government got to offer?- (red neck)views of Tony Abbott. Let's see what the state of the nation is in four months time.
    I know all about red necks- I live in The Carolinas.-
    Peter, Raleigh, NC.

    peter Thursday 15 September, 2011 - 11:59 PM

Post a comment * Mandatory fields