Comments on: Rudd harder than Howard on asylum seekers

By: Jenny Haines

Jenny Haines — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Postscript to this story 2.34pm, 7.4.08 , distributed by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Victoria:

” A few minutes ago, an asylum seeker was given the bad news that he had been rejected.
An ambulance has just taken him to hospital because he attempted to kill himself. He is
unable to face return to the country from which he fled.”

For those who hard hearts and minds and who seem to take glee in the misfortune of those who find themselves on the refugee trail, this message is a solemn reminder that we are dealing with people in desperate need of what the rest of us take for granted, the safety of home, ie asylum.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

At the expense of repetiton it is obvious that nothing will change until the Minister ensures that the joint criteria of fairness and humanity are applied to the situation. If the bureacrats won’t follow those guidelines, sack them!
However we also need a change of mindset beyond the faceless ones in the Ministry. The Govt, needs to win widespread public support to provide refuge to displaced persons, making it truly Australian to assist those facing persecution in their own lands because of race or religion. Only then will refugees be truly welcome and get the support required to grow up as Aussies!

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

How ironic that Australians of all people should feel they are in a position to deny anyone entry into Australia. Once we started (and kept) killing the aborigines like rabbits (and thats no exaggeration) “we” lost all moral authority and arguably legal authority to claim ownership of this land. In this country hypocrisy knows no bounds.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Evans has been pleaded with to sack the criminals in DIMA who committed these sorts of atrocities but to no avail. However, to claim he is being harsher than Howard is an absurd proposition.

I suggest people read the Senate investigation into how these things are done and demand that Evans speed up that process instead.

Here is what actually happens.

In Roqia’s case Ruddock accused her of sewing the boys lips. Two investigations cleared her. But Ruddock was not given those results, he was told weeks later that she did it and was made to look as bad as possible.

They refused her because all the other wives locked in Woomera while their husbands were in the community might want to be released.

No-one needs to be told what happened to Roqia Bakhtiyari now do they? On 27-12-2004 the Afghan ambassador told Vanstone in writing that they were AFghans, they were illegally dumped in Pakistan with no papers.

Before we jerk our knees over Evans, we have to be fair.

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

If what Marilyn says is true fair enough, however it is not good enough for Evans to remain silent on this grave issue. So much damage was caused by Ruddock, Vandstone and that fool Andrews when they were Coalition Immigration Ministers, there surely must be more transperancy, honesty and fairness in dealing with asylum seekers. What happened under Howards gestapo officers was herendous, if this Labor Government and Minister Evans don’t wish to be similarly branded there attitude to the Australian public needs to change. Refusing to answer the medias questions, or responding to calls will not help

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

By official statistics of Denmark in 2005, 461,614 immigrants and their offspring constituted 8.5% of the total population of Denmark .The government is a minority Liberal/Conservative coalition and could not REASONABLY be described as far-right. Trish has a right to reasonably express her views and has. Marilyn is both arrogant and patronising yet again.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

What I have said is true, I have the documents and Trish, stop bleating dear. When we co-authored the refugee convention there were get out clauses top stop crooks getting refuge.

And Denmark only has a 4% foreign population and a far right government so I wouldn’t listen to them if I was you.

By: David Morgan

David Morgan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

“Many have mental health problems”…sweet Jesus, we need people here who can contribute and integrate; and not be here so the looney fringe can feel a warm glow.
My instinct is to suggest that we give more aid in their home countries, but that has been a dismal failure.
E.G. what has $quintzillion of aid achieved in Africa?

By: Mirek

Mirek — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Well, the figures speak for themselves, although each one of them is a human being just like one of us, except for one: they don`t have the security and the expectation of a better future. When we elected Labor it was with the express expectation of a more human, caring government. And certainly, our violent and genocidal history in regard to the original inhabitants of this land, gives us no moral ground to be patronising and judgemental towards arrivals here, just as we, or our ancestors, were the arrivals then, seeking a better life, and we were accepted and made welcome. If Labor turns out to be the same or worse than the Howard Government, then they will meet the same fate at the next election, but hopefully, by that time there will be a more independent party to vote for, because a return to Liberals seems unthinkable.

By: Trish

Trish — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I agree with Kevin Rudd not every refugee is genuine. I think the Government has to be very careful about who they accept into our society. We have already seen how some immigrants refuse to integrate with Australians and therefore the differences will start to emerge in years to come. A good example is Denmark which has willingly opened its doors (will not mention the country of origin of some of the people) and now they have endless problems. Denmark is one of the most “free” countries in the world and now they are being very selective. They are brave enough to recognise their mistakes and are rectifying them. Danish is a pre-requisite for one thing plus much stricter rules apply now. Australia is too soft and the same Immigration Officers who allow refugees in should visit the countries where the refugees come from and make the necessary preparations for people if they believe they are genuine. Most of the real genuine ones are left behind because they have no money at all.