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Australia's stand on asylum seekers labelled a matter of national sham

The Australian Government's stance on asylum seekers has been labelled "a matter of national shame" by former Labor Foreign Affairs Minister, Bill Hayden.

Justine Kerr reports Mr Hayden who has also served as Governor-general, has also attacked the Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock.

Bill Hayden used a speech at a book launch in Brisbane last night to attack the Government's so-called Pacific solution, describing the scheme as a political stunt. "IT IS A THOROUGHLY OBJECTIONABLE DISPLAY OF AUSTRALIAN NEO-COLONIALISM...OF EXPLOITING THE DEPENDENCY AND VULNERABILITY OF POOR NON-WHITE NATIONS." Mr Hayden reserved his harshest criticism for Philip Ruddock, likening him to a pit bull terrier. "SNARLING, TEETH BARED, EYES HARD AND UNACCOMMODATING, LIKE POLITICS' EQUIVALENT OF A PIT BULL TERRIER FAITHFULLY ON GUARD DUTY FOR HIS MASTER, READY TO MAUL, TO INJURE." On the subject of the controversy surrounding Dr Peter Hollingworth, Mr Hayden, who is himself a former Governor General, declined to comment.

14/03/2002 09:09:28 | ABC Radio Australia News

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