When the Rudd Labor government was elected two years ago, there were high hopes that it would leave behind the more negative foreign policies of its predecessor Howard coalition government. What we have, though, is a foreign policy shambles.
People smuggling
Allard: Humane, but definitely not tough
So much for “tough but humane”: the Government’s offer to resettle refugees aboard the Oceanic Viking has turned the whole saga into a farcical political pantomime, says Tom Allard. It will do nothing to deter people smugglers.
Rudd’s “secret plan” to increase Sri Lankan migration
The Government is looking to allow more Sri Lankans to emigrate legally to Australia in an effort to reduce the incentive for them to come via people smugglers.
Bartlett: A call to stop mandatory detention for people smugglers
Anyone caught assisting with the unlawful entrance of asylum seekers to Australia is brandished a people smuggler and receives mandatory detention. Is Indonesia’s unhappiness at Australia imprisoning some of their poorest damaging our diplomatic relations? asks Andrew Bartlett.
In defence of people smugglers
Kevin Rudd may deride people smugglers as the “scum of the Earth”, but for Andrew Casey, they’re the people who gave him the opportunity for a better life.
Possum: The first big poll on asylum seekers
The long awaited polling on public perceptions of the asylum seeker issue is in, finding 52% think the Government is too weak on border protection and 66% support the decision to turn back boats. Possum Comitatus has more.
Meet Kevin Rudd’s “scum of the earth”
The two men charged with bringing a boatload of Afghani asylum seekers into Australian waters appeared before the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory last week. Are these the people really “scum of the Earth”?
Carney: Rudd steers the future course of asylum seekers
Kevin Rudd is struggling to balance his “tough, but fair” asylum seeker line. Why doesn’t he take a more humanitarian stand, but be honest and acknowledge the possible increase of people smuggling? asks Shaun Carney.
Asylum seekers: territorial security versus electoral suicide
Kevin Rudd repeatedly denounces traffickers as “the vilest form of people on the planet” but says nothing whatsoever about those governing Sri Lanka — almost as if it’s morally worse to smuggle victims away from atrocities than it is to perpetrate them in the first place.
The boat people budget bonanza
Our economy benefits extraordinarily from immigration, often to the detriment of the countries from which the arrivals come. So why are the broader economic issues surrounding boat people ignored? asks Tom Elliott.
How Rudd sent the wrong message
Kevin Rudd’s decision to grant protection visas to all 42 Afghan asylum seekers from the boat that exploded off Ashmore Reef in April may prove to be one of the biggest political and policy mistakes he has made, says Ken Parish.
Andrews: Rudd’s people-smuggling policy in tatters
Kevin Rudd was naive to think he could water down Australia’s immigration policies and still discourage people smugglers, says Howard government immigration minister Kevin Andrews. And it is “genuine refugees” who will suffer most as a result.
People smugglers are people too
PM Kevin Rudd may be talking tough on immigration, but putting the pressure on people smugglers — sometimes ‘mum and dad’ operations — will simply strain diplomatic relations with Indonesia.
Fred Nile turns people smuggler
Christian Democrat Fred Nile is getting into the people smuggling business, with plans to smuggle 2000 Christian asylum seekers by boat into Australia from Indonesia.
Ruddock: Lock up your borders
Writing in today’s Oz, Philip Ruddock repeats yesterday’s (and last decade’s) warning that Australia is facing a “flood” of people smugglers and asylum seekers flocking to our borders.
VIDEO: The economics of people smuggling
With the boat people issue ongoing, Dr Khalid Koser looks at where the story begins. How much do migrant smugglers charge? And why is it cheaper to go to Australia than North America?
People smuggling crackdown: proceed with caution
In seeking Malaysia’s help to crack down on people smuggling, the federal government needs to make sure that it doesn’t make things worse for asylum seekers, says Andrew Bartlett.
Tips and rumours: The real boat people story?
A Crikey tipster lets in on the “real story” behind the Ashmore reef explosion, while another reckons the Immigration Department is broke.
Why “Just Say No” to people smugglers won’t work
If you were a Tamil in that situation, facing – at best – life in a barbed wire camp, how would you respond to someone offering you a place on a boat?
Guy Rundle: Rudd’s hero was a people smuggler
Three years ago, Kevin Rudd wrote of the influence on his life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who, incidentally, was arrested helping Jews escape to Switzerland.
Crikey Says: A letter addressed to the electorate office of Malcolm Turnbull…
Crikey reader Mathew Kenneally has intercepted the following letter addressed to the electorate office of Malcolm Turnbull…
Sinking ships and people smugglers
Meanwhile in the Mediterranean…
Crikey Says: Boat arrivals are, sorry, a drop in the ocean of illegal entries to this country.
This debate over immigration and illegal entry into Australia is turning increasingly to the ridiculous.
Asylum cover up? What asylum cover up?
If nothing else, last week confirmed that as a nation we still have some sort of complex about boat people.
