Opinion

Australia has duty to treat refugees humanely

Gunnedah priest Father Ron Perrett says Australia should improve its treatment of asylum seekers

I RESPECTFULLY request that readers write to Chris Bowen, the Minister for Immigration, Parliament House, Canberra, and to Scott Morrison, Shadow Minister for Immigration, to express grave concern about the policies of both the government and Opposition in regard to refugees.

A Herald/Neilsen poll a few months ago showed that more than half of Australia’s population believed that those coming on boats should be landed and processed within Australia.

Let us join in supporting the policy called for by the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office and the Jesuit Refugee Service Australia – caring people who have regular contact with individual refugees – that Australia has a duty to ensure humane treatment of asylum seekers and to do this on Australian territory, not offshore.

Let us ask that Mr Bowen reverse his policy of slashing – from 3000 last year to 750 this year – the number of special humanitarian visas available, to enable residents of Australia to bring persecuted family members here.

If people can’t find a way to bring their wives and children here, this can lead to desperate relatives taking the risky boat option.

We need also to support Paul Power, the chief executive of the Refugee Council of Australia, who has pointed out that the reduction in intake is creating increased tensions between community groups and hostility towards boat arrivals.

The federal government claims that these drastic cuts in humanitarian visas are necessary due to the increased boat arrivals.

However, Australia is the only country in the world that limits its humanitarian intake by creating a numerical link with asylum seekers arriving at its border.

Posted By: Ron Perrett on 6/02/2012 3:00:00 AM | Comments (7)

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Australia provides for immigration and that includes about 13,700 genuine refugees sent by UNHCR a year. Per capita we are third behind the US and Canada, Norway is fourth.

Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel paying passengers arrive without a visa or passport they had to have had to enter the countries the people smuggler boats sail from. The lack of ID is simply to make it difficult or impossible for Australian immigration to check their claims and where they came from originally.

On shore processing provides access to Australian courts if claims are rejected.

Posted by Redneck, 7/02/2012 7:57:22 AM, on Northern Daily Leader

Offshore processing coupled to temporary protection visa only (no family reunion and possible deportation if deemed safe to return them to their homeland) and other deterrents all but stopped the boats when the Pacific Solution was applied. They did not start coming again in large numbers until Labor abandoned the Solution that worked so well.

Surely the best way ahead is to deter people smuggling and concentrate on genuine refugee resettlement programme.

Media reports have revealed that too many boat people are economic refugees who claim to be seeking asylum, border control is needed

Posted by Redneck, 7/02/2012 8:03:28 AM, on Northern Daily Leader

I agree. I believe the capacity of Australia is something over 100 million people. The reason we dont carry that many people is because of attitudes and in-fighting in parliaments. The nation is becoming a dis-organised mess. The Command is to love others and to give to those who ask. How simply is that to do? Little children recognise it...why not the adults.

Posted by Graeme, 7/02/2012 1:43:09 PM, on Northern Daily Leader

Graeme Australia cannot provide housing for many of its citizens now, we have a shortage of water that would take many billion of dollars to redistribute, our farmer food sources are under pressure from government stupidity, our politicians are self serving fools who cannot see the way forward.

Carbon Tax Con is an example, read why green electricity is not cost effective and that climate change is normal. Games, silly games, political agendas, too bad about people.

I am proud that we are a nation of immigrants and UNHCR refugees but I cannot accept people coming here illegally.

Posted by Redneck, 7/02/2012 4:27:21 PM, on Northern Daily Leader

We have a duty to look after our own long, long before we pay any attention to so called refugees. Many Australian's from all walks of life suffer homelessness and disadvantage. It makes me cranky that we are told we have responsibilities towards these people. Charity begins at home.

Posted by kev from the old oz, 8/02/2012 9:57:12 AM, on Northern Daily Leader

There was never a need for a shortage of water or housing in Australia, Redneck. We just got distracted from the proper use of the resources by ungodly behaviour in our parliaments. If China ever successfully invades 20 years later on much of the west will have opened up to canals. You see the difference? We should have opened up the west and the north decades ago. What stopped us? Fighting and squabbling in the political parties.

Posted by Graeme, 11/02/2012 1:01:10 PM, on Northern Daily Leader

Sorry there Father but I think you looked at the wrong stats 80+ percent dont want these people allowed in to australia. THEY ARE NOT REFUGEES. Refugees dont have thousands of dollars to fly around the world and then pay to get on a boat, with there money why dont they fly direct to aus ? No, real refugees are scratching around dumps, begging ,working for cents an hour JUST TO SURVIVE . Time for you to do a little work over in a third world country then you might see real refugees . And graeme move to indo or china and see the future, 100 million with no infarstructure,, great.!

Posted by stevo, 22/02/2012 10:51:00 AM, on Northern Daily Leader

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