Australian Politics Forum - Frauds' granted refugee status

Big Donger

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 102622

Re: Frauds' granted refugee status
Reply #30 - Jun 25^th, 2013 at 2:00pm

You’re right, Gandalf, our refugees are a trickle compared to the rest of the world, but the game changer in this issue is the increasing refugee death toll. The shipwrecks, the sinkings, the huge loss of life need to be prevented. Otherwise, we’re attracting anfd inadvertently facilitating death at sea.

And I do disagree that everyone who comes is a refugee. Many families in the developing world sponsor a family member to go abroad and become the breadwinner. A number of Sri Lankans work in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Many apply for skilled migration to Australia. It’s actually not a huge leap to apply under the different criteria of asylum. The $5000 to $10,000 people smuggler cost may well be cheaper and easier than the cost of study, assessment, and the inevitable wait of skilled migration.

The only deterrent here, of course, is detentiion.

Back to top

IP Logged

polite_gandalf

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 20027
Canberra
Gender: male

Re: Frauds' granted refugee status
Reply #31 - Jun 25^th, 2013 at 2:37pm

Big Donger wrote on Jun 25^th, 2013 at 2:00pm:

You’re right, Gandalf, our refugees are a trickle compared to the rest of the world, but the game changer in this issue is the increasing refugee death toll. The shipwrecks, the sinkings, the huge loss of life need to be prevented. Otherwise, we’re attracting anfd inadvertently facilitating death at sea.

The solution is reaching a regional agreement. Ideally building a processing facility in Indonesia where claims can be assessed before they hop on a boat.

I really don't think it would be that hard to stop the boats, dismantle the people smuggling trade - while at the same time not deny the rights of genuine refugees to seek asylum in Australia. The only thing stopping such a solution is the pandering of our leaders to the dog whistlers, and the prevailing narrative of "border security" - which is just ridiculous.

Back to top

A resident Islam critic who claims to represent western values said:
Quote:

Outlawing the enemy's uniform - hijab, islamic beard - is not depriving one's own people of their freedoms.

IP Logged

Big Dave

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 2164
Gender: male

Re: Frauds' granted refugee status
Reply #32 - Jun 25^th, 2013 at 2:45pm

polite_gandalf wrote on Jun 25^th, 2013 at 2:37pm:

Big Donger wrote on Jun 25^th, 2013 at 2:00pm:

You’re right, Gandalf, our refugees are a trickle compared to the rest of the world, but the game changer in this issue is the increasing refugee death toll. The shipwrecks, the sinkings, the huge loss of life need to be prevented. Otherwise, we’re attracting anfd inadvertently facilitating death at sea.

The solution is reaching a regional agreement. Ideally building a processing facility in Indonesia where claims can be assessed before they hop on a boat.

I really don't think it would be that hard to stop the boats, dismantle the people smuggling trade - while at the same time not deny the rights of genuine refugees to seek asylum in Australia. The only thing stopping such a solution is the pandering of our leaders to the dog whistlers, and the prevailing narrative of "border security" - which is just ridiculous.

A processing facility is like advertising for the refugee world to come to Indonesia. There would be a massive influx of people . Indonesia needs to tighten is visa avaliability.

Back to top

IP Logged

Big Donger

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 102622

Re: Frauds' granted refugee status
Reply #33 - Jun 25^th, 2013 at 3:28pm

Without a HUGE bribe, Indonesia’s not going to buy it. Why would they? A rich continent with a population of 24 million expects a poor archipeligo with 250 million to take its refugees - for domestic political reasons.

What’s in it for Indonesia?

Stopping boats has moved on from pandering to the knuckleheads. It’s become a huge risk to life. The people smugglers are competing to see how many they can fit on a fishing boat - passengers are lucky to get a lifejacket. We have no idea about the ones who don’t make it. After the Tampa, ships are avoiding rescues. The Indonesian navy are staying well out of it, even when the boats are in their waters.

This is a big problem, and it’s not helped by playing the politics of either side. The Greens have just sat on their hands mouthing platitudes. The Libs have played politics with people’s lives - they love the boats. The government is stuck in a political minefield. Every decision and action has unforseen consequences.

I agree that this issue would be helped by taking it out of the hands of the dog whistlers. It should be bipartisan again - same as it was under Fraser, same under Hawke and Keating. The boats have nothing to do with Asian or Muslim immigration, but this fits into the knucklehead narrative you mention. 43,000 arrivals in a few years does nothing to the population. It only effects the budget with the huge cost of detention - which will have to stop if boats keep coming. The centres are already full.

I don’t know what the solution is, but I don’t think it’s easy - or nice.

Back to top

IP Logged