Australia PM Tony Abbott defends asylum policy 'closed book'
Thursday, January 09, 2014
SYDNEY: Australian PM Tony Abbott has defended what critics have described as government secrecy over asylum policy.
Officials have in recent days refused to comment on reports that Australian naval forces have turned back at least one boat to Indonesia.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...