East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao responds to Julia Gillard's asylum-seeker proposal in Dili. Picture: Lirio Fonseca Source: The AustralianJoe Kelly-The Australian- July 08,2010
JULIA Gillard today denied that she had publicly specified East Timor as the site of a proposed regional processing centre for asylum-seekers.
Two days after a speech in which she revealed that she had discussed the proposal with President Jose Ramos-Horta, Ms Gillard spoke out to correct the “impression that I made an announcement about a specific location”
“Once again, with respect and, obviously happy to be judged on what I say, and what I said in the speech was not that. I did not say that,” she told 4BC radio.
In her speech to the Lowy Institute on Tuesday, Ms Gillard said: “... today I announce that we will begin a new initiative.
“In recent days I have discussed with President Ramos Horta of East Timor the possibility of establishing a regional processing centre for the purpose of receiving and processing irregular entrants to the region.”
Since the speech the idea that East Timor was the intended site of the centre has firmly taken hold without contradition.
But today, Ms Gillard repeated that there “would need to be discussions across the region” and that there was “no quick fix”.
“I did outline a vision and the vision was for a regional processing centre and that is important because it completely undercuts the people smuggling market,” she said.
“I'm not going to leave undisturbed the impression that I made an announcement about a specific location.”
Ms Gillard said that the location for the centre would “emerge from the discussions with our regional partners.”
“Nothing new. No grand revelation here.”
The Prime Minister's attempt to change the perception that the plan included a Timor-based clearing house for refugees came as her East Timorese counterpart Xanana Gusmao advised her not to call him directly until the plan was fully formed.
She has also been under sustained opposition attack over the diplomatic gaffe of talking to Mr Ramos Horta instead of Mr Gusmao.
However, Mr Gusmao said he had an open mind on the idea.
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