the boat people will keep floating
July 6, 2010 7:16 pm general chit chatI don’t understand this focus on the people smugglers.
As long as there is conflict there will be refugees, as long as there is refugees there will be people smugglers.
Sinking people smugglers won’t stop people wanting to escape their horrific situations and find refuge in a safer environment where they can raise their children in peace.
What Captain Ranga and first Mate Abbot are proposing is basically refugees are not welcome, if you have risked your life, fled from war, poverty, death ,in the hope of gaining access to Australia you have made the wrong choice, we only like rich Asian people who can be doctors and engineers.
I don’t understand why we need to keep our aid at a distance, we are happy to hand out the monies overseas but not happy to take a personal role in helping those in need if they knock on our door.
Gillard and Abbot you both disappoint me on this one.
Megs :
Date: July 6, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
Well said Howie.
People smugglers are the problem, not the refugees, it’s sad that the vulnerable are the ones who end up being punished for the awful choices of the smugglers. Why can we not separate the issues? We might get the stats down, but is that really a good result? Not in my opinion!
b :
Date: July 6, 2010 @ 7:51 pm
Well said.
gem :
Date: July 6, 2010 @ 8:12 pm
here here (as they say in question time). I wish we were in parliament. It would be different then.
Dave :
Date: July 7, 2010 @ 10:29 am
The problem is more complex that you are I are aware of. It’s easy to say, “We should let all refugees into Australia”, but it is much harder to actually do and administer. People smugglers fill a gap for people who can afford them (and they are expensive), but if there was an alternative do you think people would risk their lives and their children’s lives and jump on a leaky boat? You can’t just say you’re going to go against people smugglers without providing an alternative. What is your alternative? How would you get those people from wherever they would have boarded a people smuggler’s boat to Australia? What would you do with them once they are here? What do you do about the people who are following the normal legal channels to immigrate to Australia?
I agree the whole issue is being treated deplorably in a game of political one-up-man-ship and the length of time it takes our government to process requests is pathetic. Neither party has any answers that show any compassion nor show any method of actually presenting a solution to the problem. As George Negus said on 7pm Project the other night. The issue should be something that is investigated compassionately in a bi-partisan agreement, not used as a political badge to win votes.
howie :
Date: July 7, 2010 @ 2:00 pm
I think people will still jump on boats, even if there is alternatives, because there won’t be enough alternatives for everyone. The people on the most part are fleeing horrific situations and they will do whatever it takes to try and hold onto their lives in the pursuit of peace.
If that means risking everything on a leaky boat people will do it, not becasue they are stupid or trying to be dodgy but because they are holding on to a small glimpse of hope, we will never full understand it becasue our lives are not under threat.
i like this image, it’s helpful http://www.human.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/transparency_notfull_ver3.jpg
Jo :
Date: July 10, 2010 @ 4:36 am
That is a great image!
I am so sad about what I am hearing about this!