Tears in Australian parliament after second asylum boat sinks

Two Opposition MPs signalled they may cross the floor and back the compromise,
though their colleagues could be seen entreating with them in the chamber to
stick with their party.

During a rushed vote on the compromise bill, Ms Gillard warned of “more
tragedy to come” unless Parliament could agree on a solution.

“It would be good to go from this place and say no one won, no one lost,”
she said. “It wasn’t about party politics we just wanted to get something
done.”

Jason Clare, the minister for home affairs, said Australians had had a “gutful”
of the political brawling over refugees.

‘They are sick of us fighting, they are sick of the politics, they are sick
of hearing of more people dying, they are sick of us yelling at each
other,’’ he said. ‘‘They just want us to fix this.’’

Mr Abbott, the Opposition leader, said it was a ”sombre day” but insisted he
could not back the compromise. The Opposition says it does not support
refugee processing in Malaysia because it is not a signatory to the United
Nations Refugee convention.

”Plainly this is the kind of occasion when we should try and put aside the
type of politicking that so often marks this parliament,” Mr Abbott said.

”Nevertheless I don’t think anyone would expect people to put aside their
strongly held convictions on border protection.”

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