International - Globescan   

Immigration bill dropped

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Australia will shelve a bill designed to tighten the laws on preventing "unauthorised arrivals" of migrants. Prime Minister John Howard said in Canberra on Monday the bill on "all unauthorised arrivals" was being withdrawn in the context of a changing "arithmetic" in the delicately balanced Senate over this issue. One ruling party Senator had threatened to "cross the floor" and vote against, while another wanted to "abstain" if a certain amendment were not incorporated. The Opposition Labour vowed to scuttle the exercise. "Unauthorised arrivals", especially from Indonesia, have become, over the years, a highly emotive and sensitive issue.

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