Playing politics in the asylum seeker debate
13/12/2011
published by ABC Online
“View the article”: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3726940.html
The Story Said
At last week’s United Nations conference on refugees and stateless people, the High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, argued that populist politicians and media “exploit feelings of fear and insecurity to scapegoat foreigners, to try to force the adoption of restrictive policies…” This is clearly evident in Australian politics. With the announcement that some asylum seekers will be released from immigration detention into the community, the opposition government has been very quick to counter, stating that the move will open a “sea lane" for asylum seekers, and catapult an increase in boat arrivals. Shadow immigration spokesperson, Scott Morrison, maintains that “The pull factors created by Labor’s latest capitulation has supercharged the people smugglers’ product… The changes allow those who arrive illegally by boat to be released into the community with work rights, government payments, health services and endless taxpayer-funded appeals through our courts, regardless of whether they are refugees”. However, Mr Guterres calls on the international community to rethink the issue of refugees by reminding ourselves that “Refugees are not a security threat, but the first victims of insecurity”.
Did you know
Nearly all asylum seekers who arrive by boat in Australia, are deemed to be genuine refugees escaping persecution. Refugees all over the world are forced to cross borders without authorisation. It is not hard to understand why people fleeing war, genocide or torture cannot risk their lives by waiting patiently for a visa that may never come. The act of seeking asylum, even without a visa, should never be penalised as it is inhumane, and is in contravention of international law. Asylum seekers are threatened, not a threat. All asylum seekers who come to Australia undergo thorough security checks by ASIO. If they are found to have committed a serious crime, they are denied refugee status. Case studies both domestically and internationally have proven that problems with absconding and associated community release are minor. Furthermore, the economic burden of keeping people locked up in detention centres is considerably greater than allowing people to live in the community on limited payments, whereby they can make a positive contribution to the community, such as filling job vacancies that many Australians refuse.
