BILL Shorten will stare down Labor’s powerful Left faction and ask the party to finally adopt the Abbott government’s controversial turnback policy if they win office.

In a stunning backflip, Mr Shorten last night admitted Labor “had to face the truth” that the policy worked and conceded Labor made “mistakes” in government which ­allowed 50,000 illegal ­arrivals and more than 1100 people to die at sea.

Mr Shorten lit the fuse for an explosive showdown with the party’s Left faction when the ALP national conference begins in Melbourne tomorrow.

The Daily Telegraph can ­reveal powerful Labor Left figures will host a “Labor for Refugees” seminar at the conference which will include discussions about why asylum seekers should even be detained.

Mr Shorten and shadow immigration spokesman Richard Marles have spent several months working on colleagues to support the policy change. Shadow cabinet will begrudgingly support the plan.

“I can no longer escape the conclusion that Labor, if we form a government, needs to have all the options on the table,’’ Mr Shorten said.



“That would include boat turn backs as an option.

“If I want to be the leader of this nation, I’ve got to be able to face the truth. The truth for me is that if we have policies in place which gives sustenance and ­support to people smugglers to ­exploit vulnerable people, where they put these vulnerable people on unsafe boats and then people drown at sea, I can’t support any policies which do that.”

The announcement sent ­Twitter into overdrive, with many “loyal” ALP supporters vowing to desert the party for the Greens. Mr Shorten conceded the issue would be divisive with the Left: “It’s not an easy issue for Labor because on one hand we’re absolutely committed to the humane treatment of refugees and on the other hand we also want to ­prevent people drowning at sea.”

Mr Shorten’s decision will put his leadership on the line.

Labor members could vote to abandon the policy. It is understood the Left and Right of the party each have about 200 votes.

In a sign of a potential bloodbath of the issue, a page in the ALP’s official national conference handbook is devoted to promoting the Labor asylum seeker event which will be open to the public.

ACTU boss Ged Kearney, who is regarded as an influential figure on the party’s Left, will head the discussion with human rights lawyer Julian Burnside and refugee advocate David Manne.

Labor’s decision to match the Coalition policy of turnbacks is an acknowledgment of the success of the government’s hard line Operation Sovereign Borders. Labor policy is likely to include humanitarian protections, an increase in refugee intake to 27,000 a year, improved management of offshore processing facilities and greater transparency.

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/bills-boat-turnback-shortens-asylum-erro...

Its time wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 6:50am:



May as well. What difference is there.

The Greens will benefit from this, they do every time Shorty takes a step closer to the radical right.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 6:52am:


Yes may as well amalgamate , getting harder to tell the difference.

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 7:08am:


How many refugees/ asylum seekers have you conversed with?

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Good on you Bill.
Going with an action that has been successful.

shortarse and  "de truth"...

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thats the best laugh I have had since they elected him leader...

good one BILL you can at least say the word...now look up its meaning.... the royal would like to see that..



did he speak to krudd before the challenge????.....