Colonel Klink and sergeant Schultz...

Asylum seekers could again face processing in overseas countries under a Coalition government, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has announced.

The Opposition's immigration policy, released today, also includes plans to bring back temporary protection visas and would make visa holders work if they wanted to claim welfare.

The Coalition has also vowed to turn back boats from Australian waters if necessary.

The processing policy would be similar to the Howard government's so-called Pacific solution, which saw asylum seekers processed in countries such as Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

The return to Howard-style asylum policies will upset more moderate Liberals and it is understood the measures were not taken to the party room before they were announced.

Mr Abbott said the Coalition would negotiate with other countries to process asylum seekers if the detention centre at Christmas Island was full.

He said the tougher measures were needed because the Government's policy was too soft and had made Australia a target of people smugglers.

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They will have to attend English language classes after a year and they will have access to limited income support, but there is a new catch in the form of mutual obligation - visa holders will have to work for welfare.
"In the same way that others are required to do work for the dole and things of that nature, we think that is only fair that those same requirements should apply to those receiving these benefits," Mr Morrison said. Mr Morrison said the Coalition would do away with the Government's recent freeze on visa applications for Sri
Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers, which he said was discriminatory.
A Coalition government would also reintroduce the 45-day rule that was abolished by the Rudd Government. It means asylum seekers who take more than 45 days to lodge a refugee claim will not be allowed to work or access Medicare.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/27/2910798.htm?