Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has pushed European leaders to shut their borders, as they deal with the continent’s largest refugee crisis since World War 2.
Speaking at the Second Annual Margaret Thatcher Centre Gala in London, in his first address since being overthrown as Prime Minister last month, Mr Abbott called on Europe to take a hardline stance and bypass its “misguided altruism”.
Comparing the plight of continental Europe with Australia’s own battles with border control – under conservative Howard and Abbott governments – Abbott said it would be wrong to adhere to traditional Judeo-Christian principles in assessing asylum seekers.
“Implicitly or explicitly, the imperative to ‘love your neighbour as you love yourself’ is at the heart of every Western polity,” he told the conservative audience.
“It expresses itself in laws protecting workers, in strong social security safety nets, and in the readiness to take in refugees.
“It’s what makes us decent and humane countries as well as prosperous ones, but – right now – this wholesome instinct is leading much of Europe into catastrophic error.”
Abbott said there was no other option but for European states to implement tougher border control methods.
“No country or continent can open its borders to all comers without fundamentally weakening itself.”
“Stopping the boats and restoring border security is the only truly compassionate thing to do.”
He also acknowledged the fight against “militant Islam [in the Middle East] needs more than a military solution”, particularly in Syria, requiring greater involvement and interaction with Muslim communities.
