article_snippet.sent: Tony Abbott hardline policy
article_snippet.sent: has proved controversial but Mr Abbott said His hardline policy was the only way to prevent disasters such as the loss of 900 lives when a fishing boat capsized on Saturday night.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Abbott said: 'The only way you can stop the deaths is to stop the boats'. '
article_snippet.sent: Mr Abbott won power in 2013 on a 'stop the boats' pledge, and not a single one has breached Mr Abbott ring of steel in 18 months.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Abbott has previously said Mr Abbott was sick of being lectured to by the United Nations over Australia's obligations to refugees, saying Mr Abbott policy was the 'most decent, most compassionate' solution.