THE Greens today stand as the last hurdle to a solution to the asylum seeker crisis after a bill allowing the government's Malaysia people swap deal finally passed the lower house last night.
But the minor party has vowed to block any move to re-introduce offshore processing, almost ensuring that chaos continues on the high seas as politicians retire for a two-month break tonight.
Amid dramatic scenes in parliament, the Coalition accused the government of a "24-hour pyrrhic victory" knowing that the bill would not pass the senate.
Several MPs were brought to tears as they argued for parliament to reach a solution and solve an impasse during which people have drowned in two separate asylum-seeker boat sinkings.
"There is no way the Malaysia people swap will pass the senate," Mr Abbott said.
"The boats will keep coming and they will be boats full of women and children."