Protesters clash with immigration minister

13:35 AEST Sat Sep 17 2011





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Angry pro-refugee advocates have chased Immigration Minister Chris Bowen down a Sydney street after interrupting a press conference he was giving about the government's planned changes to asylum laws.


Mr Bowen was halfway through the press conference in Smithfield, in the city's west, when members of the Refugee Action Coalition arrived and began shouting over the minister as he attempted to answer questions from journalists.


Mr Bowen remained calm and after several minutes of heckling again began taking questions from journalists.


After the press conference, Mr Bowen drove off and was chased for about a kilometre by angry members of the Refugee Action Coalition shouting "shame Bowen shame".


The group had been holding a demonstration outside the minister's office in nearby Fairfield earlier on Saturday morning.


During his press conference Mr Bowen urged Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to back the government's plans to amend the Migration Act.


The government plans to change the act to counter a High Court ruling which severely restricts its ability to send asylum seekers offshore for processing.


"Mr Abbott shouldn't risk offshore processing, he should work with the government in good faith to see legislation passed," Mr Bowen told reporters.


With the Greens already ruling out supporting changes to the act, the government will need the coalition's support if it's to make any progress.


Mr Abbott appears unlikely to support the government but is expected to wait until the legislation is before the shadow cabinet and party room before announcing a final decision.


Nick Riemer, from the Refugee Action Coalition, said his group's earlier demonstration was held to voice opposition to offshore processing.


"The protest is completely opposed to offshore processing of any kind," he told AAP.


"On the grounds that it violates our international obligation . . . to welcome refugees in this country.


"Whether it's in Malaysia, whether it's in Nauru, it doesn't matter.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode


"Refugees who apply to Australia for help should be helped here."

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8303364/abbott-signals-no-to-migration-law-changes


Mr Bowen did not front the demonstration outside his office.