Barnett lauds High Court decisionPUBLISHED: 31 Aug 2011 17:10:50 | UPDATED: 01 Sep 2011 04:07:33PRINT EDITION: 31 Aug 2011
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says it will be to the "eternal shame" of the Labor Party that they tried to send unaccompanied children to Malaysia.
Mr Barnett lauded the High Court's ruling against the federal government's Malaysian people-swap deal on Wednesday.
"The High Court ruled emphatically that it was not legal to send detention people to Malaysia," he told state parliament.
"Congratulations to the High Court for standing up for humanitarian principles and ruling that it was not appropriate to send unaccompanied children to Malaysia."
The WA Premier added: "It lacks any sense of humanity to send unaccompanied children to a third country and it's to the eternal shame of the Labor Party that they supported it."
Mr Barnett lashed out at WA Opposition Leader Eric Ripper for not speaking out against the federal government's proposal or defending the rights of children.
"You did not have the courage of your convictions to stand up for those children," he said.
"You did not have the courage of your convictions to criticise the prime minister."
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