Kevin Rudd Has Penned A Scathing Article About Turnbull's Proposal For An Asylum Seeker Ban

Kevin Rudd has accused Malcolm Turnbull of trying to appease severe right-wingers of the Liberal party and the "Hansonite insurgency".

In an opinion piece published by Fairfax Media, former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd has lashed out against the Coalition's proposed laws to ban asylum seekers—who come via boat—from entering Australia, even if proven to be legitimate refugees.

Rudd has been relatively quiet since his exit from politics until now. He argues that the proposal to stop people arriving by boat by revoking their right to obtain a visa is a new low, and should be opposed by all means possible.

"This measure is about the politics of symbols, designed to throw red meat at the right, including the Hansonite insurgency, and to grovel to the broad politics of xenophobia," he writes.

"It does nothing to help those refugees left to rot for more than three years, who should be resettled now."

Much of what Rudd writes about was echoed in Opposition leader Bill Shorten's comments yesterday.

Shorten has also criticised prime minister Malcolm Turnbull of being held captive by Pauline Hanson's One Nation party and far right-wingers of the Liberal party.

"This is both bad policy and bad politics: on policy, the far right in Australia represent the worst of the xenophobic, nationalist and protectionist wave that we now see raging across Europe and America," Rudd continues in his piece.

"While on politics, appeasement of political thugs like Abbott, Dutton, Abetz, Andrews and... Morrisson, only embolden the far right to demand more, not less."

Rudd's comments are likely to put pressure on Shorten to completely rule out support for the proposed laws.

This prospect is one that many humanitarian groups are hoping for, given the Coalition will likely depend on the approval of Labor to push through with the proposed reforms.

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