Fed: Ruddock tries to play on Labor MPs' concerns
The federal government has played on Labor MPs' concerns about Opposition Leader SIMONCREAN's proposed immigration policy.
In a major test of his leadership, Mr CREAN will tomorrow stop party debate on theimmigration plan and take a vote to endorse it as Labor policy.
But Labor continues to remain split on some aspects of the policy -- including theexcision of Christmas Island, meaning asylum seekers would be denied appeal rights theywould receive on the mainland.
Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK has played on the concerns in parliament, warningLabor MPs the pledge to monitor returned asylum seekers would cost $40 million a year.
The cost would be due to the number of failed asylum seekers the policy would generate.
He's also rejected Labor's proposal to introduce a United States-style green card tocrack down on illegal workers.
AAP RTV sm/sw/rk/rp
KEYWORD: BOAT (CANBERRA)
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