The sinking of a boat carrying 200 asylum seekers last week near Christmas Island has reignited debate over Australia’s policy deadlock.
The government has renewed a call for a refugee swap deal with Malaysia to deter people smuggling. However, the opposition is demanding that an immigration detention centre on Nauru be reopened.
Meanwhile, authorities say 17 bodies have been found, with another 70 feared dead after a three-day search. The boat sank in Indonesian waters, 120 nautical miles (220km) north of the island last Thursday.
One hundred and nine people were rescued but the search for survivors was called off late on Saturday.
- BBC News
