Gillard shows strain with Nauru gaffe

Prime Minister Gillard has faced a tough week of campaigning following the insider leaks scandal.

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Who will you be voting for in the federal election?

This poll ended on 05 September 2010.

Labor

27%

Liberals

43%

National Party

8%

Greens

12%

Family First

1%

Independent

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Who is your preferred Prime Minister?

This poll ended on 05 September 2010.

Julia Gillard

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Tony Abbott

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Bob Brown

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None of the above

8%

Bring back Kevin Rudd

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This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

JULIA Gillard appears to be showing the strains of the campaign trail, after a gaffe in which she mistakenly referred to talks with Nauru about a regional refugee processing hub.

The prime minister was at a preschool in Melbourne when she was asked about border protection, following the arrival of another asylum seeker boat off Christmas Island.

But when attempting to explain her policy, Ms Gillard slipped up when pointing to talks with East Timor about the processing centre plan, instead saying negotiations were under way with Nauru.

"I don't want to stop boats at sea, I want to stop them leaving shore and setting sail in the first place," Ms Gillard said.

"That's why I outlined my plans for a regional processing centre and why we commenced the dialogue with Nauru."

The prime minister then continued with her answer, either ignoring or not noticing the obvious error.

Ms Gillard has ruled out Nauru as an option because, unlike East Timor, it is not a signatory to the United Nations refugees convention.

The opposition has been pushing for the Nauru facility, used by the previous Howard government, to be recommissioned. The coalition held talks with officials from the Pacific island nation this week.

The prime minster's stumble comes after a troubled second week on the campaign trail, during which she was forced into damage control to contain fallout from a cabinet leak and also faced a slump in the polls.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott increased pressure on Ms Gillard to consider Nauru, saying negotiations with its government could be settled within days.

"If the prime minister is serious about taking tough action, she would pick up the phone to the president of Nauru," Mr Abbott said.

The comments came after it was revealed the navy went to the assistance of a boat carrying 81 asylum seekers and four crew, 85 miles northwest of Christmas Island on Wednesday.

HMAS Broome and HMAS Armidale rescued those on board after the boat was located by a Royal Australian Airforce surveillance aircraft.

The group will be transferred to Christmas Island.