Nauru Conflict of Interest Policy Scandal Rocks Coalition

The Coalition’s plans to build a tent city on Nauru for up to 2,000 asylum seekers have been marred by an alleged conflict of interest controversy.

The Controversy

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison traveled to Nauru to announce the policy at the expense of logistics company Toll Holdings, which provides tents and has had Australian Government contracts on the island for over a year. Toll’s website boasts its ability to deliver camp and base logistics in remote locations, and it regularly charters flights to Nauru.

The Arrangement

The Federal Government claims the situation is extraordinary, while the Coalition argues that there is no reason why the trip should not have been funded by Toll. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott confirmed the arrangement, saying it was “wholly privately funded” with no deal struck between Toll and the Coalition.

Concerns Raised

Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has raised concerns about the ethics of privatizing a policy announcement. “This is pretty extraordinary if it’s true,” he said. “I know that the Coalition are strong advocates of privatisation but there’s got to be some limits to it.”

Corporate Donors and Government Policy

The controversy has sparked questions about the role of corporate donors in shaping government policy. Albanese accused the Coalition of going too far in allowing private companies to fund political trips.

Morrison’s Plans for Nauru

Morrison revealed plans for Nauru to host a village for people granted asylum status, and promised that up to 5,000 asylum seekers could be housed on the island over five years if the Coalition wins the election.

Labor’s Policy Criticized

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott took aim at Labor’s policy of processing asylum seekers and resettling refugees in Papua New Guinea. Abbott accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of being dishonest about the plan, which he claimed did not guarantee that no asylum seekers would ever be resettled in Australia.

Greens Criticism

Greens leader Christine Milne criticized both major parties for trying to outdo each other on asylum seeker policy. “In the sense of the Government saying, ’there’s no chance people will be able to be resettled in Australia’, the Coalition saying, ’there’s no guarantee that they will be resettled in Australia’, and the Government now saying ‘ah ha - the Coalition isn’t as hard as us’. Well I think it’s disgraceful,” she said.