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IN PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) is pictured on the floor of Australia's House of Representatives with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L) and Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten following Abe's address to both houses of parliament in Canberra July 8, 2014. REUTERS/Lukas Coch/Pool

Leader of the Australian Labor Party and leader of the opposition Bill Shorten proposed to consider the Coalition’s policy on asylum seeking boats. ABC reported the he hasn’t ruled out the possibility and keeping options available. The policy announced deals with the turning back of asylum seeking boatload to Indonesia.

Yesterday, frontbencher Joel Fitzibbon has insisted the party members to support the policy of “boat-turn backs” and declared to debate the policy next month at Labor Party National Conference. He issued a statement saying, "Labor believes in a compassionate approach to refugees and a constructive approach to asylum seekers."

He expressed his anger over the drowning of boats at sea situated between Java and Christmas Islands and promised to never let people smugglers channelize that route to fulfil their self-interests by putting unsuspecting people on unsafe boats. However, the party’s left faction is divided in their opinion as to whether it would prevail.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a representative of the Labor Right faction spoke on the inevitable implementation of the policy. Meanwhile, it is to be noted that last year Labor's immigration spokesman Richard Marles had put forward his opinion supporting the turn-backs but was subjected to tremendous criticism. ABC further reported that Mr Marles strongly condemned the incidents of drowning and argued that no action of reopening of the seaways between Java and Christmas Islands would be taken. "We are motivated by a position of compassion," he added.

The Sydney Morning Herald also reported that former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa expressed his deep concern about the strained relations between the two countries and suggested on creating a greater dialogue on asylum seeking boats. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and deputy Opposition leader Tanya Plibersek argued to fight against move and expressed their apprehension on whether Labor could effectively implement it.

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