What Laurie Oakes claims: Abbott had also declined to condemn - even to comment on - another front-bencher's attempt to link asylum seekers and paedophiles in the public mind. What actually happened, when Senator Eric Abetz fielded questions about residents in, say, an aged care facility being informed if asylum seekers are to be housed with them: A journalist made the link. Abetz refuted it. Oakes then accuses Abetz. A wonderful game.