Security scare as minister faces refugee protests, admits issue 'ignites passions'

IMMIGRATION Minister Chris Bowen faced a security scare in Sydney today, with angry protesters coming within metres of him to oppose his Malaysian refugee swap.

Bowen protest

IMMIGRATION Minister Chris Bowen faced a security scare in Sydney today, with angry protesters coming within metres of him to oppose his Malaysian refugee swap.

The minister had just begun a speech at the University of New South Wales on the experience of refugees in Australia when about 30 protesters burst past security into the lecture theatre.

Mr Bowen acknowledged that refugee policy “ignites passions like few other subjects”.

He reiterated that asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia would not be caned, sent home or prosecuted by the local authorities.

But his assurances were ignored by the protesters, who shouted anti-government slogans.

At one point, Mr Bowen stopped his speech, saying: “We'll just let our guests have their say.”

In a worrying security breach, some of the placard-waving protesters were able to approach Mr Bowen.

Two plainclothes NSW police officers temporarily left Mr Bowen's side to push other protesters out the rear of the theatre.

It took about 10 minutes for police to arrive and provide back-up for Mr Bowen's security detail.

Once removed, the protest group chanted “shame, Bowen, shame” throughout the course of the minister's 20-minute speech, and banged on the rear glass panels of the theatre as the 300-strong audience strained to hear Mr Bowen.

After the speech, the minister took questions from a number of refugees present in the audience before leaving via a side door.

Amid reports negotiations over the Malaysian deal have stalled due to Australia's insistence that appropriate safeguards are in place, Mr Bowen insisted those sent away under the plan would be protected.

“Now, of course, while our plan to break the people-smugglers' business model involves transferring people who arrive by boat to Malaysia, we recognise that it is very important that appropriate care and protection be in place for those who are transferred,” Mr Bowen said.

“Those protections are being built into the operational arrangements that underpin the agreement.”

Mr Bowen insisted it was “particularly important” that specific care and protections were in place for vulnerable cases, most particularly children.

There are now 274 people who have been detained in limbo on Christmas Island since the government's May 7 announcement of the Malaysian deal.

Last week, that figure included 47 children aged between three and 16. Of those, 16 were unaccompanied minors.