Fed: Bracks slams Pacific solution on boat people

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2001
Fed: Bracks slams Pacific solution on boat people

Victorian Premier STEVE BRACKS has weighed into the immigration debate, calling for
an end to the federal government's so-called Pacific solution on asylum seekers.

Mr BRACKS says Australia should take responsibility for processing boat people who
try to land here.

And he says more processing centres could be set up in Victoria, with his government
prepared to co-operate with the commonwealth.

Mr Bracks says the processing of asylum seekers on neighbouring Pacific islands is
expensive, unworkable, and should never have been implemented.

He is also calling for a significant increase in Australia's overall immigration intake
to more than 100,000, from an average of 60,000 to 80,000 over the past decade.

AAP RTV bp/gfr/wz

KEYWORD: BOAT BRACKS (MELBOURNE)

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