I like jame-e because he always asks sensible questions.

Don't ever expect Greens to be able to give you a substantial reply.

Cods, you will find many people who support the fair treatment of Refugees such as my wife and myself contribute quite a bit to helping refugees settle into the country.
As I have stated before, I am proud to call many refugees both old and new ....friends.
I cant speak for others here but I do know from personal experience that many Aussies put their time and money where their mouths are when it comes to the fair treatment and intergration of refugees 
I also know from personal experience that if migrants and refugees,   have a positive experience when they first go into the community they will in turn give back to this country in spades.
Fear and hate are wasted emotions and only attract fear and hate in return.

____ wrote on Dec 14^th, 2010 at 5:14pm:


Right... So you don't support any kind of policy change?

jame-e wrote on Dec 14^th, 2010 at 5:27pm:



I support faster processing, and then integration while their refugee claims are processed.

Where do you stand?

____ wrote on Dec 14^th, 2010 at 6:15pm:


Ok, but that suggests that there isn't a problem with how we integrate people.

Where do i stand? I don’t believe that detention is humane. It could be made more humane by doing something for the detained. If they were capable of making the journey to Australia than they are capable of contributing to the community they wish to join. The Australian people have decided that we have a responsibility to these people, thus i feel creating a responsibility on the asylum seekers part. If picking lychees and digging holes was good enough for me than its good enough for anyone. They should be made to contribute in any way that they can while they are in transition. We have severe labour shortages in some industries and i propose that we should invest in something that is productive. Productive for them and productive for the community. If the residents of the Asti hotel were assisted in contributing to the mango harvest it would do a world of good. Along with some education it would help to give them the ability to function independently within the community and create more value in that goal. In turn the community’s views would change dramatically.

We require 457 visa holders to live where we require their contributions to be made. Why do we not expect the same from all who seek residence in this country. Obligation is empowering, not detrimental. Remember that these people were not rescued from a refugee camp, they are able, determined and were financially capable of making the journey that they made. 2 to 5 years service in an area of need in order to gain residence is a gift, a gift that thousands accept and millions would crave.

Everything i have i’ve worked for, and i suggest that they be given the opportunity to work for what they want.  Detention is a necessity, but that shouldn’t mean we leave people to rot.

jame-e wrote on Dec 15^th, 2010 at 12:29am:




Our views are not that far apart ... a slight difference is I don't think these people have risked their own and their families lives to slack off and suck off society.
Give them opportunities and I believe they will grab then with both hands.

Like all the other migrants have before them.

____ wrote on Dec 15^th, 2010 at 5:33am:


Agreed. But i think they are very different to the migrants that have come before them. My experience with migrants is almost 100% positive. My experience with refugees is much less positive than that. Yes these people are human beings but that does not automatically qualify them for success in Australian society, we need to do more.
Slamming mandatory detention and in any way fuelling detainees undesirable behaviour is highly destructive. Both for the detained and for the community. By all means fight for a better deal, but calling for an immediate end to mandatory detention i think is total stupidity given the current environment surrounding this issue.