http://7pmproject.com.au/a-christmas-nightmare.htm


At the time of writing, the terrible human toll of the Christmas Island boat disaster is still being tallied. We know that at least 28 people have lost their lives in shocking circumstances, dashed against the rocky cliffs or drowned in the swirling maelstrom.

Refraining, even for a day or two, from politicising these deaths is probably too much to ask in present-day Australia. Ever since the Howard Government's 2001 electoral lightning rod – refusing to allow the Tampa to dock at this very same island – boat people have never been far from the front pages. Howard's implementation of the so-called 'Pacific Solution' for the offshore processing of asylum seekers, coupled with an unapologetically hardline approach to their assessment and detention, coloured political debate in this country until the end of his Government in 2007. These policies, though often criticised as draconian, arguably contributed to a significant decline in boat arrivals.

The Rudd Government came to power on the promise of relaxing many of the harshest policies of their pedecessors. Most notably, the controversial Temporary Protection Visas were discontinued. Since that time, the rate of boat arrivals has climbed again. Yesterday's ill-fated attempt marked the 129th vessel (that we know of) to attempt Australian territory since the policy shift.

The Federal Opposition and other critics of the Rudd/Gillard government have long argued, plausibly, that the softening of asylum seeker policies has painted Australia as an 'easy target', and directly contributed to the increase in arrivals. The Government has consistently denied such a connection, instead blaming external 'push' factors such as the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

For what it's worth, I believe the truth lies somewhere in between. But in the aftershock of the Christmas Island tragedy, many critics of the current regime – from mainstream columnists to frothing at the mouth members of the public – have made a disgustingly disingenuous claim to compassion in their condemnation of the government. Despite scant mention of the victims themselves, their comments and letters declare that Gillard has 'blood on her hands', that such a travesty was inevitable under her policies, that the boats must be stopped to save lives.

On a very basic level, they have a point. We should do everything in our power to disrupt the people-smuggling trade and prevent people risking their lives in this way. But what I cannot stomach is the hijacking of humanitarianism to the anti-refugee agenda.

Where was this compassion when 353 lives were lost aboard the SIEV X, in October 2001? This terrible maritime incident happened on Howard's watch. Despite the boat sinking in an Australian border protection surveillance area (again, around Christmas Island), the Government not only denied any responsibility for the tragedy, but refused to conduct any investigation into the circumstances, even going so far as to try and block a memorial to the incident to the victims being built in Canberra. I don't remember any of the present-day compassionistas speaking up against policy then.

Where were these defenders of the people when asylum seekers were being deliberately dehumanised during the 'children overboard' affair? Where were those now shedding crocodile tears for the victims while innocent children languished for years in our desert prisons?

One need not read very far down the letters to the editor to find the more traditional forms of bigotry towards asylum seekers. Clumsy charges of being 'queue jumpers' and 'economic migrants'. Paranoid, misinformed rants about refugees receiving luxurious benefits while our pensioners are left to rot. While offensive, at least these attitudes are essentially honest. They reflect a deep seated, infantile fear of someone else getting a piece of our pie. It's not fair!

Gillard and Labor are by no means blameless in this affair. Their policies have been confused, and confusing. While in reality the Rudd/Gillard border policy regime is far from the 'soft touch' their adversaries claim, without a clear message to the contrary it is unsurprising that people-smugglers are too often able to sell the idea that Australia is a destination worth the risk. In any event, this tragedy has happened on Labor's watch, and they will suffer the fallout.

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Howard implemented the pacific non solution because he was a media driven little turd.
If Howard cared about the number of refos this country was getting he'd have clamped down on  the plane refos which are over 98% of asylum seekers to our shores.But its easier to appease the retards who see a couple of people on a leaky boat as some sort of threat.

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On the contrary, thats all I'm interested in, pity you only post bullsh it.
Kiwi plane refo go home.

skippy. wrote on Dec 17^th, 2010 at 3:42pm:



But the plane refugees at least arrived here safely in one piece, this and didn't have to resort to people smuggling and child prostitution rackets in order to get here on board a leaky boat.

Can your refugees now washed up on the rocks say the same about a Labor government and it's shipwreck policies?

I don't think so.

Time Labor called it a day I think.

Look on the bright side...no wait, there isn't one.

My mistake.

Gillard and labour can only be clinging to power out of spite to stuff this country further as with Kenneally in NSW.  She  and the Greens have  blood on their hands for failing to stop the boats and to stop accepting illegals.  Millions of dollars are now being wasted on a rescue effort that we cannot afford for people that are already dead.

Prevailing wrote on Dec 17^th, 2010 at 4:44pm:


Without a doubt...hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

No, they will just continue reeking havoc until the bitter end, this is the Labor way.

They know they have blown it, so rather than fix it, they will spend the rest of their time in office making life miserable for all Australians...getting in for their chop while they still can.

Gillard will retire on her PM pension, why should she care?

We are virtually being held at ransom by this wayward government, and don't expect Bill Shorten's mother-in-law GG Bryce to intervene any time soon, as it's clear where her loyalty lies and it's not with our nations people or the Queen she took an oath to serve.

If an election were held now, she would undoubtedly lose, Labor know this thus will hold on until the bitter end, irrespective of their apparent failings and Australians having lost all respect for their government.

If they had any respect at all, they would all resign from cabinet.