Australian asylum seeker political debate continues

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Updated October 22, 2009 20:20:47

Australia's already volatile debate on asylum seekers continues to escalate, even as an international expert charged with thinking about Australia's international image has warned the issue could yet seriously damage the country's standing. As two more boats carrying asylum seekers were intercepted by Australian border authorities, Parliamentarians in Canberra were delving deep for some of their most rancourous exchanges on the issue yet. And Canberra denied it was negotiating a per head bounty with Indonesia to fund extra efforts to stop boats and to process those who seek refuge.

Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speakers: Wilson Tuckey, Liberal Party MP; Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister; Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Opposition leader; Simon Anholt, British consultant on national image; Peter Woolcott, Australia's Ambassador on People Smuggling

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