Australians' tough policy on asylum

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard yesterday unveiled a new asylum policy aimed at allaying voter fears about rising "boatpeople" numbers ahead of elections, with the centre-piece a possible East Timor processing centre.

There are only 4,251 unauthorised arrivals in Australian detention currently, but border protection is a "hot potato" issue with voters, which saw conservative parties win a stunning election victory.

Ms Gillard rejected charges her new policy was aimed at "rednecks in marginal seats", with marginals in "mortgage belt" Australia likely to determine the election expected in August.

Ms Gillard is on course for a narrow victory.

But she conceded voters in the suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne had legitimate concerns when it came to rising population pressures.

"It is wrong to label people who have concerns about unauthorised arrivals as 'rednecks'," Ms Gillard said in a speech in Sydney, adding that she had held discussions with East Timor president Jos Ramos-Horta and the United Nations about establishing a regional asylum processing centre in East Timor.

"The government's policy goal is … to wreck the people-smuggling trade," Ms Gillard said. "Arriving by boat would just be a ticket back to the regional processing centre."