Labor to reverse its stance in TPVs
Labor has performed a political backflip today, announcing it will reconsider its support of the Government’s Temporary Protection Visa policy. When TPVs were introduced by the Howard Government seven years ago, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley strongly backed the move. In the wake of the Tampa crisis and the Iraq War, Mark Latham also supported the use of Temporary Protection Visas as a clamp down measure. Today’s announcement follows a Labor Social Policy Committee report into the visas which found no reason to continue their use, particularly when most Temporary protection visa holders are eventually granted permanent protection. Last week, caucus voted to scrap the visas if it won government. The Federal Opposition’s immigration spokesman, Tony Burke, says he will push for Labor to change its policy at next April’s national conference. The Wire spoke to Mr Burke a short time ago along with a number of refugee advocates.