Editing Pacific Solution (section)

==Suspension==
During the campaign for the 2007 parliamentary election, Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd promised{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}} to continue the [[Howard government]]'s policies of turning boats back to Indonesia and the issue of temporary protection visas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.andysrant.com/2013/07/audio-of-kevin-rudd-saying-turn-back-the-boats-in-2007.html |title=Audio of Kevin Rudd saying 'turn back the boats' in 2007 |access-date=17 July 2013 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221711/http://www.andysrant.com/2013/07/audio-of-kevin-rudd-saying-turn-back-the-boats-in-2007.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon Kevin Rudd's [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 election]] win, the Pacific Solution was abandoned, with the Nauru processing centre closed down in February 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals|title = Last refugees leave Nauru|date = 8 February 2008|access-date = 25 July 2013|publisher = Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship|archive-date = 14 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123132/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals|url-status = live}}</ref> a move welcomed by the [[UN Refugee Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|title = UNHCR welcomes close of Australia's Pacific Solution| newspaper=Unhcr |date = 8 February 2008|access-date = 25 July 2013|publisher = unhcr.org|archive-date = 14 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200814122817/https://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|url-status = live}}</ref> The last detainees left Manus Island in 2004 and Nauru in February 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=UNHCR welcomes close of Australia's Pacific Solution|url=http://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|work=UNHCR welcomes the end of Australia's Pacific Solution which comes to a close today|publisher=UNHCR|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814122817/https://www.unhcr.org/47ac3f9c14.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The [[Nauru|Republic of Nauru]] was concerned about losing much-needed aid from Australia.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nauru-fears-gap-when-camps-close/2007/12/10/1197135374481.html Nauru fears gap when camps close] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023210628/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/nauru-fears-gap-when-camps-close/2007/12/10/1197135374481.html |date=23 October 2012 }}. ''[[The Age]]'', 11 December 2007</ref> Opposition immigration spokesman [[Chris Ellison (politician)|Chris Ellison]] said the closure could suggest to people-smugglers that Australia was weakening on border protection.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23183785-5013404,00.html |title=Pacific Solution sinks quietly |work=The Australian |first=Paul |last=Maley |date=9 February 2008 |access-date=5 August 2008 |archive-date=2 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002115202/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23183785-5013404,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>