Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull debated the effectiveness of the government’s immigration policies in parliament on Monday, October 19th.

[Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Leader]:
"(Is) the prime minister asking the Australian people to believe his changes to Australia's border protection policies have made no contribution at all to the surge in illegal arrivals?"

Prime Minister Rudd says the situation is worse than during the time of his predecessor, former Prime Minister John Howard.

[Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister]:
"For the leader of the opposition he should know then the period of the Howard government nearly 250 vessels arrived in this country."

Last week, Sri Lankan asylum seekers were attempting to reach Australia, when their vessel was intercepted by the Indonesian navy.

The group of more than 250 were detained at the Merak port in Indonesia. Last Thursday, the estimated 150 men onboard refused food and water and went on a hunger strike in a plea to the world to find a solution for them. They ended the strike on Saturday, October 17th.

Another boatload of 42 asylum seekers was intercepted on Monday off the West Australian coast.

Australia has seen an increase in the number of asylum seekers attempting to reach the country through Indonesian waters.

Prime Minister Rudd is now trying to negotiate a new agreement with Jakarta to help stop the transit of asylum seekers through the Indonesian archipelago.