LABOR POLICY A " THREE WORD SLOGAN ": BISHOP

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Julie Bishop

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD - November 7, 2010

AAP

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop says it was premature for the prime minister to discuss plans for a regional processing centre for asylum seekers with Asian leaders because it's just a "three word slogan".

Ms Bishop told the Ten Network on Sunday the government's policy for an East Timor-based facility, which Prime Minister Julia Gillard has discussed with leaders including Indonesia's president, would not transpire.

"It was a mistake for Julia Gillard to raise what was essentially a three-word slogan - regional processing centre - with Asian leaders on her recent trip without there being any detail," she said.

"The Asian leaders raised, understandably, the same kind of questions that we in the coalition have been raising.

"What are the details of this regional processing centre?"

Ms Bishop said it was no wonder there was little enthusiasm for the idea when issues such as who would be involved, its size and how people would be transferred to the centre were not fleshed out.

She predicted the centre would not be built.

"I don't believe that it has any chance of progressing," she said.

"That leaves Labor without a border protection policy, that means the boats will keep coming and more detention centres will be needed on shore."

Meanwhile, Ms Bishop stood by residents of Northam in Western Australia, who expressed their consternation about the relocation of asylum seekers to their suburb at a public meeting last week.

She claimed not to have seen people wearing t-shirts with slogans like "Bomb the Boats" at the forum, instead meeting only local residents raising "legitimate concerns".

"They were very angry there was nobody from the government there to discuss their concerns," Ms Bishop said.

"They had a number of legitimate issues that they wanted addressed yet there was only somebody from the Immigration Department
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