Tony Abbott slammed for 'tasteless' cruise ship joke

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been blasted for making a "tasteless" joke about the Italian cruise ship disaster in a radio interview.Mr Abbott was speaking with Adelaide Triple M breakfast show hosts Ali Carle, Dale Lewis and Warren Tredrea when he was asked: "This is just a bit from left field, the captain from the Costa Concordia wants to know if you need any help with your boat policy?"

"Well that was one boat that did get stopped, wasn't it," Mr Abbott replied.Cruise liner Costa Concordia, carrying more than 3000 passengers, ran aground off the Tuscany coast in Italy last Friday.

Eleven people have been confirmed dead, 64 injured and more than 20 are still missing.The radio hosts laughed at Mr Abbott's joke, but Victorian Labor MP Rob Mitchell has called on the Opposition Leader to apologise for the comment, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"He has no boundaries and lacks judgment," Mr Mitchell was quoted."You have 11 people that are dead and at least 20 people missing and he is using this tragedy to make a tasteless joke. It shows he is unfit to be leader."Mr Abbott's joke was referring to his policy pledge during last year's federal election to "stop the boats" by reintroducing temporary protection visas and forcing asylum seeker boats back to Indonesia

source : Ninemsn‎