Updated September 06, 2011 16:49:11
Photo: Tony Abbott has offered to help the Government change the legislation. (AAP)
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Tony Abbott has accepted the Prime Minister's offer of a briefing on the legal implications of the High Court's asylum seeker ruling.
Julia Gillard wrote to the Opposition Leader today, inviting him to a briefing with senior departmental officials so he can hear their analysis of the policy options available after last week's High Court ruling.
Last week the court ruled the Malaysia asylum seeker deal unlawful, and the Government's legal advice found legislative changes were needed to secure the future of offshore processing.
Mr Abbott has offered to help change the legislation.
He has replied to Ms Gillard, saying he accepts her invitation and wants the briefing to take place in Brisbane tomorrow afternoon.
His letter also called on the Prime Minister to speak to the leaders of Nauru and Papua New Guinea about reopening processing centres there.
The leaders, along with Ms Gillard, are in New Zealand for the Pacific Islands Forum.
Soon after arriving in Auckland Ms Gillard told the media she had no intention of raising Australia's asylum seeker policy at the forum.
"Obviously if leaders want to raise the issue with me I will discuss it with them, but it is premature for me to be pursuing that agenda here at this forum given the High Court case of last week and that the Government is still preparing its response," she said.
The Government's border protection policies remain unclear after Cabinet met yesterday to discuss its options.
Labor's Left faction wants all asylum seekers processed onshore, but senior ministers want to retain offshore processing to deter people from getting into boats in the first place.
The blow to the Government delivered by the High Court's decision is also evident in new polling that shows Labor's primary vote at 27 per cent.
Earlier Tuesday, Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said the Government must give up on its Malaysian solution.
"Julia Gillard should take the time to do the right thing and seek out the representative from the Nauruan government and discuss with them the reopening of the Nauru processing centre," she said.
"They are very keen to be part of the solution for Australia."
Strange bedfellows
But advocates for the end of offshore processing have got an unlikely ally in mining magnate Clive Palmer.
Mr Palmer has revealed he shares the view of Labor's Left: that arrivals should have their asylum claims assessed in Australia.
"Offshore processing is like throwing the baby out with the bathtub," he told ABC's Q&A program.
Audio: Ministers back the boss (The World Today)
"We're trying to catch the people smugglers but we're doing a lot worse to a lot of people. You can't make a deal to send people back to Malaysia when those people haven't even arrived in Australia."
And Victorian Liberal Premier Ted Baillieu told ABC radio in Melbourne that Australia should abide by the UN Convention on Refugees.
"I think we have to meet obligations under he United Nations. I've said that from the start and I think that's the important thing to bear in mind," he said.
"But it's not appropriate for me to get involved in commenting on those decisions and those policies; that's a matter for the Commonwealth, a matter for the Federal Parliament."
Poor polls
Despite her handling of the issue, and the latest poor opinion poll, senior ministers are continuing to support Ms Gillard.
They argue the low poll numbers are no surprise given last week's High Court ruling.
Today's Newspoll shows Labor's primary vote at 27 per cent and its two-party preferred vote at 41 per cent.
The personal ratings for Ms Gillard are also bad; just 23 per cent are satisfied with her performance, while 68 per cent are dissatisfied, giving her a net approval rating of minus 45 per cent.
She says she is more focused on making sure other people can get a job.
"I don't do this job as Prime Minister because I want to see it reflected in opinion polls. I do this job as Prime Minister because I want to do what's right for the nation's future," she said.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith, often touted by some within Labor as a possible future leader, says he is just interested in his portfolio and that no-one in the party is interested in changing leader.
"We made our choice about leadership. There's no vacancy; no-one is seriously suggesting that that be disturbed," he said.
And he told ABC News 24 that the party's chances should not be written off.
"I think it is ill-advised for anyone to count out a government when there are two years to go," he said.
"The political circumstances are we've got two years to go, and at some point in the cycle the community will expect from Mr Abbott not just a political negative attack, they will expect from Mr Abbott a comprehensive plan for the nation's future.
"Now frankly, I don't think he is capable of doing that in a national security, economic or social sense."
Abbott accepts PM's offer of asylum briefing - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
