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13-04-2010, 03:08am
(This post was last modified: 13-04-2010, 03:11am by Throwdown!.)
The media keeps mixing 3 or 4 issues into one for the sake of getting noticed through sensationalist nonsense. They know much of what they say is stupid, but all is fair in the ratings war.
As an example; if your country offers others asylum (and Australia does) then all a refugee has to do is make it to your country. That is NOT illegal immigration, that is seeking asylum. They then have to show that they are escaping persecution. These are international regulations that Australia has signed up to and nothing to do with current Labor or Liberal Policy.
Many argue that the people smugglers are assisting asylum seekers by getting them to protective countires. There are huge moral questions and debates to be had, but it is incorrect to say a genuine asylum seeker is breaking the law if your country offers asylum.
The UK has a problem in that their welfare system (and some would argue their observance of human rights) is far more generous than the rest of Europe, so asylum seekers want to go there. The regulation states that the FIRST country an asylum seeker arrives at is obliged to provide that protective asylum.
However, asylum seekers arrive in Britain having been ignored in Germany, Holland, France etc... because authorities that catch them being smuggled know the people aren't interested in staying in those countries. France even placed it's open detention centre near the channel tunnel so asylum seekers could get a shower and a feed before walking through the tunnel to the UK. This is bang out of order!
Now consider our situation in a similar way to the UK's. We're surrounded by countries that are not obliged to assist asylum seekers, and we're a huge chunk of rock between what they're escaping and the next best destination - New Zealand. The situation is self-explanatory. If you're escaping persecution and heading South, get a plane or a boat to Australia (unless you can swim it). Unlike the many airline choices available, who is offering sea travel to Australia?!??
If you don't like it you have to get the Politicians to change Australia's status, and that's just not going to happen in a 21st century world.
As an example; if your country offers others asylum (and Australia does) then all a refugee has to do is make it to your country. That is NOT illegal immigration, that is seeking asylum. They then have to show that they are escaping persecution. These are international regulations that Australia has signed up to and nothing to do with current Labor or Liberal Policy.
Many argue that the people smugglers are assisting asylum seekers by getting them to protective countires. There are huge moral questions and debates to be had, but it is incorrect to say a genuine asylum seeker is breaking the law if your country offers asylum.
The UK has a problem in that their welfare system (and some would argue their observance of human rights) is far more generous than the rest of Europe, so asylum seekers want to go there. The regulation states that the FIRST country an asylum seeker arrives at is obliged to provide that protective asylum.
However, asylum seekers arrive in Britain having been ignored in Germany, Holland, France etc... because authorities that catch them being smuggled know the people aren't interested in staying in those countries. France even placed it's open detention centre near the channel tunnel so asylum seekers could get a shower and a feed before walking through the tunnel to the UK. This is bang out of order!
Now consider our situation in a similar way to the UK's. We're surrounded by countries that are not obliged to assist asylum seekers, and we're a huge chunk of rock between what they're escaping and the next best destination - New Zealand. The situation is self-explanatory. If you're escaping persecution and heading South, get a plane or a boat to Australia (unless you can swim it). Unlike the many airline choices available, who is offering sea travel to Australia?!??
If you don't like it you have to get the Politicians to change Australia's status, and that's just not going to happen in a 21st century world.
Carpe Diem!