The PM called on the opposition and the Greens to support the people-swap plan with Malaysia. Source: AAP
THE Australian Greens and refugee advocates are calling for a coronial inquest into the boat capsize near Christmas Island that left two asylum seekers dead.
Three others who were injured in Monday's tragedy are being treated in Perth after being airlifted from Christmas Island overnight by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the deaths are "incredibly distressing" and wants the opposition and Greens to back recommendations made by the Houston expert panel, which include her people-swap plan with Malaysia.
"The thing that is stopping me from bringing it into operation is that unfortunately the leader of the opposition and his team has decided it is in their political interest to see more boats," Ms Gillard said in Perth.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott rejected the call, telling reporters in Sydney that when Ms Gillard referred to the Malaysia deal, she was looking for an excuse to do nothing.
"Because the Malaysia people-swap involves just 800 people and just at the moment we're getting 800 people a week," he said.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the government's no-advantage rule and offshore processing policies are not preventing people getting on boats.
She wants a coronial inquest and a review of Australia's boat interception protocols.
"We need to make sure we are doing absolutely everything we can to avoid these tragedies from happening," she said in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said it was yet another "damning indictment of the government's flawed, irregular immigration policy".
"This is not a border security problem but a humanitarian challenge," he said.
"Unless and until there is a sophisticated policy addressing source, first asylum and transit countries, the boats will keep coming."
The three injured include a boy, believed to be six to eight years old, who nearly drowned. He is receiving treatment in Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
Royal Perth Hospital is treating a pregnant woman who nearly drowned and a 36-year-old man who has serious scalp wounds.
The fishing boat carrying 95 people capsized after stopping for an Australian Customs vessel, Ocean Protector.
Customs was responding to a call for help made by a passenger on Sunday night.
After two officers boarded the boat on Monday morning, two large waves struck the vessel and it rolled.
Customs officers plucked people from the water, but two, a woman and a boy, were dead, believed drowned.
Two more suspected asylum-seeker boats, carrying 105 and 83 people, were intercepted by Australian authorities near Christmas Island on Monday.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said 35,000 people had arrived by boat under Labor.
"Only a change of government will restore the proven measures of the Howard government," Mr Morrison said.
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