Australia -| Australia rejects bill to deport asylum seekers
Australia rejects bill to deport asylum seekers:CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australian senators on Thursday rejected laws that would have let Australia deport asylum seekers to another country as a way of discouraging them from attempting the long, dangerous boat journeys.
The legislation had scraped through the House of Representatives 74-72 late Wednesday after six hours of passionate debate, amplified by two deadly capsizings of boats filled with Australia-bound migrants in the past week. But the Senate rejected the bill 39 votes to 29 after sometimes tearful arguments.
The legislation had scraped through the House of Representatives 74-72 late Wednesday after six hours of passionate debate, amplified by two deadly capsizings of boats filled with Australia-bound migrants in the past week. But the Senate rejected the bill 39 votes to 29 after sometimes tearful arguments.