MEMBER for Bendigo Lisa Chesters is unlikely to vote in favour of turning back asylum seeker boat arrivals when the issue comes before the Labor Party National Conference later this month.
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Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon stated “turnbacks” would remain Labor Party policy ahead of the 2016 federal election.
The debate about asylum seeker policy is expected to dominate the conference, which could set out Labor’s policy directions across a number of issues.
Ms Chesters said turnbacks were “only one part of a much broader, complex and challenging policy area”.
“I am not going to pretend for one minute that Joel Fitzgibbon and I are on the same side of this debate,” she said.
“I believe that for too long in Australian politics this is an area that has been politicised by both the left and the right.
“We need to put the people, who are some of the most vulnerable people in the world, at the centre of any policy regarding those seeking asylum, whether they come by boat or by plane.”
Mr Fitzgibbon made the comments in support of the turnback policy during a televised interview earlier this week, in which he believed the policy should be a part of a “policy toolkit”.
Ms Chesters said rank and file Labor members, members of parliament and others would continue to debate the issue in the lead-up to the conference.
“The involvement of UNHCR is critical, as well as strong and respectful relationships with the countries in our region,” she said.
