Australia tries to ease Jakarta's immigration fears

Australia scrambled to reassure Indonesia yesterday that it would keep up its tough stand against illegal immigrants, a day after strict new asylum laws were scrapped following a revolt by government lawmakers.

Indonesia has expressed deep regret that the laws, designed to ease Jakarta's concerns after Australia granted asylum to 43 Papuans in March, had been scrapped and warned the move could be seen as encouraging more illegal immigration.

Prime Minister John Howard said he expected Australian ties with Indonesia to remain strong, adding that his conservative government had been strongly in favour of the tougher new laws.

"I wanted this bill. The world and his wife knew I wanted this bill," Mr Howard told Australian radio yesterday.

The new laws would have sent all asylum seekers who arrive by boat to immigration detention camps on the remote Pacific islands nation of Nauru.

But Mr Howard scrapped the laws on Monday after a revolt by government lawmakers ensured he would not have the numbers to pass the legislation through the upper house Senate.

Some lawmakers were concerned the new laws would have broken a promise by Mr Howard a year ago that children would no longer be held in immigration detention.

Australia's decision to grant asylum to the Papuans in March caused a deep rift in ties between Australia and Indonesia.

Indonesia temporarily withdrew its ambassador in protest, and said the decision demonstrated Australian support for a secessionist movement in Indonesia's restive eastern province.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he had spoken to his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda late on Monday to explain why the laws would not go ahead.

Australia has courted Indonesian support for its tough stand on asylum seekers and sees Indonesia as crucial in its efforts to stop people smugglers sending crowded refugee boats to Australia.

Mr Howard said Indonesia had been a key part of Australia's success in stopping an influx of refugee boats over the past five years. He added that Australia needed continued Indonesian cooperation.