Australia Opposition targets boatpeople

AUSTRALIA: Australia's conservative opposition leader pledged Sunday to jail people-smugglers for a minimum 10 years, formally launching his campaign for an Aug. 21 election with an appeal for tougher border protection.

Illegal immigration could be a decisive issue in what is tipped to be a close election, with opinion polls showing that voters in key marginal seats are concerned that Canberra is not doing enough to turn back boatloads of asylum seekers.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott, speaking to party faithful in the key political battleground of Queensland state, said people-smugglers who repeatedly offended would go to jail for 10 years or more - sentences more akin to rape and manslaughter. "We are determined to send a strong message to people smugglers that their cruel and callous trade in human cargo must stop," Abbott said, launching his campaign under the banner "Stand up for Australia, stand up for real action." Abbott also promised to kill off the government's proposed 30 percent mining tax on the first day of a conservative government, and produce a national economic blueprint within his first month. Brisbane, Sunday, Reuters