My god are we still bulls*hitting this old cliche?
The "People wouldn't be so mean to refugees if they would only know what they went through!"?

Some people (like me) are quite well aware of what they go through- but our pity stops IF the refugees in question are deranged religious fanatics, violent, corrupt, criminally-inclined, only understand warlike/tribalistic/gang lifestyle, hostile to people outside their community, unlikely to integrate- or will generally repay us letting them in with a knife in the back, riots whenever Denmark publishes a cartoon, and formerly-safe neighbourhoods.

Strangely enough- unlike many people who aren't so gung-ho to let refugees into Australia- the pro-crowd doesn't want to actually address these problems at all- hence the attempt to pretend the issue is something else ("boats vs planes", and now this)

Again, my policy is we should simply screen all refugees for the above problems- if they don't have them, we should process them IN the community as they would not be a threat- if they DO- send them STRAIGHT back.
I shouldn't be expected to give up my safety to the very person who wants to take it away, simply because HIS safety is in peril too.

If some drugged up lunatic is being chased by a gang in the rain, he's clearly been bashed up- runs up to your door and screams "open up or I'll kill all of yous!" and starts trying to kick the door down, set fire to your postbox and try to threaten you- do you
a- feel for his safety and let him in, hoping he will be a good boy now he's had his way?
b- not risk it- barricade the door and call the police?

Again- we should evaluate each individual (or family group) we receive before deciding to extend our compassion.

Dear Jo.

According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, 55% of the handgun murders in the entire state of NSW between 1995-2000, occurred within the boundaries of Sydney’s most notorious ethnic ghettoes, which are full of “refugees.” This singular indisputable fact is a searing indictment on the behaviour of sort of people who pass themselves off as “refugees”, whom you wish to continue to immigrate.

It is not in your interest, nor is it in the interests of your people, to keep importing foreigners who do little except to queue for Centrelink benefits and cram our prisons.

Your attitude is to assume, that every person who claims to be a refugee is an innocent victim of some oppressor. But the violence committed by “refugees” on other “refugees” inside of Australian detention centers refutes that. Many of these people come from countries where who is oppressed, and who is not, is simply a matter of which faction is in power at any given time.

If the Serbs, Bosnians and Croats wish to kill themselves off in their own countries, I do not see why Australia is therefore obliged to take in every Bosnian, Serb or Croat who wishes to immigrate here, so that they can resume hostilities in my country. Some of us still remeber the bombing campaign committed by Croats in Sydney, in which Australians were killed. Nor do I see any sense in importing people who so obsessed with their ethnic or religious uniqueness, that they are demanding to form their own state within the borders of the state they already live in.

I have to ask, how long before they do the same thing to us?

The inception of this country was a bit different from that of the US - the fabric of their nation was woven from the threads of myriad national and ethnic identities whereas up
until the early 1970s, assimilation and the preservation of "White Australia" continued as the Australian Government's official policies.
Migrants including refugees of every ethnic origin were expected to assimilate promptly into a monocultural mould of Australian identity, based on the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic culture.

The ideal individual was the one who assimilated easily, one who became more similar to the host population as a result of social interaction and through the shedding of attributes of their culture.

It's no wonder that today these attitudes are still very much alive.
Fear of the unknown, mistrust of "differences" is very much prevalent despite the fact that at present Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse societies in the world and well over twenty percent of all Australians were born in another country. More than half of these have come to Australia from non-English speaking countries of Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia.

I have no argument with the fact that refugees should be processed
expediently on the mainland and the proper checks and procedures
followed. Refugee centres on off-shore islands such as Christmas Island or Nauru and centres on the mainland such as Villawood and others, cost the taxpayer millions of dollars. The sooner legitimate
refugees are processed and placed in society to contribute and fend for themselves is in the greater interest of the nation. The present system breeds resentment and mistrust, of the current process both for the local population and for the refugees themsleves.

Very little ignorance here Ammonite, blissful or otherwise. I'm very well read, informed and experienced.

I don't want to watch "more advocacy documentaries, dressed up as reality TV" (thank's spindoc), nor to have my nose rubbed in the fact that our taxes pay for a substantial part of it.

Hasbeen,

I think academics (most of them) will long be on the wrong side of the debate on this one.

It is all too easy to claim some moral position over one issue.

In reality, Australia, and other Western naitons, are expected to do more to help refugees who obviously see as more desirable that say the booming developing naitons. We are expected to spend more and accomodate them.

At the same time, developing naitons, including corrupt and authoritarian ones, a laughing all the way to the bank while western industries continue to struggle.

I have lost my faith in most Aust academics to refect complexity a long time ago.

but have faith; I belive the Australian people will sort this one out.
Yes, we should take some refugees, but the amount will be decided by a whole lot of considerations which should be discussed more.

I will watch the 'show' even though it coincides with the Trial which I prefer to watch. Now I call it a show because that is what it is with carefully selected participants, and editing to show what the producers want. I have seen too many current affairs programmes not to be cynical and aware of a staged show.

For example no one would just hand over their money and passports to another person. The Iraqies at Liverpool agreed they were economic migrants who, now having permanent residency, were awaiting the arrival of their families, by 747. Why would the smugglers want the passports of their passengers, they have no purpose for them. It is the 'illegals' that destroy their docs so we cannot verify who they are and where they came from. Strange that none of the six Aussies picked up on the camoflaged Yacht made to look like a fishing vessel, and one was a builder. He would pick it immediately. Or that it suddenly started to leak in a smooth sea then had smoke from an unseen fire. How obvious is that.

That is only a few things I saw in episode 1, let us see what falsehoods there are in next episodes.

OH yes, and they are confusing the issue by mixing in genuine refugees, whom we all have emphathy for, with the 'illegals' in the same show.

LEGO, Can you provide any more info about the Croats bombs or a link where I can find it. I am interested in where,when and other details.