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The Forum > Article Comments > Refugee policy needs to be about more than boats > Comments

Refugee policy needs to be about more than boats : Comments

By Susan Metcalfe, published 31/12/2010

Australians have been drawn into an exchange of sensationalist barracking over illogical and punitive policies on asylum seekers.

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Rhian, you say that "asylum seekers" do not get public housing but are housed in private rentals. At who's expense? How many of the world's third world poverty stricken millions do you expect a small tax paying work force like Australia's to support-on top of all the non workers, pensioners and aboriginals that already exist on the welfare provided? It is so easy to be magnaminous with someone else's money.
Posted by mickijo, Saturday, 1 January 2011 2:24:54 PM
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Australia, must look like the "Emerald City". All of the countries that the socalled asylum seekers come from, do not have a social welfare system or a health care system for the poor.

Basically if you are poor, getting enough to eat is almost impossible and if you get sick and cannot afford medical care, the risk of not surviving is very high.

Our welfare payments in many instances are higher than what many asylum seekers would earn in a year.

No wonder Australia looks like the Emerald City.
Posted by JamesH, Saturday, 1 January 2011 2:39:27 PM
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Quiet frankly, am fed up to the back teeth on the whinging and whining regards the refugees entering Australia.
As a Vietnam Vet, I personaly witnessed the devastation WE caused to the Vietnamese people and the by product was the FIRST boat people to Australia.
Therein lies a lesson to ALL Australians, including the whingers and whiners.
If you do not want such people entering Australia seeking refuge and a better life, all you need to do is refrain from destroying their lands and way of life, telling them how to live and forcing your version of democracy down their throats with the barrel of your gun.
It amazes me, that many Australians seem to be incapable of working this out for themselves.
Posted by itchyvet, Saturday, 1 January 2011 4:32:17 PM
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Itchyvet,

http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a0174156.html

here's the UNHCR's latest data on refugees/IDPs otherwise known as "populations of concern".

I won't even argue with you about whether the Taliban, AlQaeda etc should take responsibility for the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lets assume we are fully responsible for those refugees.

Once we take out Iraq and Afghanistan, there are 34 million people of concern to the UNHCR.

94% of the worlds refugees are NOT from places we are fighting wars. It is highly simplistic to suggest that WE are the cause of all the worlds problems. And it is categorically NOT true.
Posted by PaulL, Saturday, 1 January 2011 6:15:05 PM
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Paul;
Quote,
It is highly simplistic to suggest that WE are the cause of all the worlds problems. And it is categorically NOT true.Posted by PaulL, Saturday, 1 January 2011 6:15:05 PM
Unquote.

Your comments clearly display the twisted thinking that's so prevelant today.
No where in my post did I claim 'WE' were the cause of all the world's problems. I guess you'd need to reassess your own thinking as to why you even printed such rubbish.
Such a claim, is as you admit, totaly untrue, however it IS true, that Australia has played a large part in supporting the U.S. Foreign policies that ARE the direct cause of this misery.
In fact our Government, when it still had a back bone readily admited to this as evidanced by the releases recently of the Fraser Govts concerns with such matters.
I direct you to the urls,
Afghan war can't be won: Malcolm Fraser
• Brendan Nicholson, Defence editor
• From: The Australian
These releases clearly demonstrate concerns that ran OPPOSITE to the U.S. foriegn policy we so slavishly follow today.
When you've lived as long as I have and witnessed/participated in such events, maybe then you'll see the light. On the other hand maybe you won't.
I know fellow Vets who still feel they did the right thing in Vietnam despite witnessing their effects first hand.
So it's become obvious to me, people will only SEE what they WISH to see. Possibly, you are such a person, so what, I couldn't care less, because at the end of the day, it will be younger folk like yourself, who will inherit what's happeneing today and will need to deal with it.
I will enjoy, sitting back watching how efficiently you deal with it.
Posted by itchyvet, Saturday, 1 January 2011 7:04:27 PM
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Itcyvet,

You said “if you do not want such people entering Australia seeking refuge and a better life, all you need to do is refrain from destroying their lands and way of life, telling them how to live and forcing your version of democracy down their throats with the barrel of your gun.

You are right, you didn’t claim we are the source of all the world’s problems. Merely the cause of the refugee problem.

But if 94% of refugees come from countries where we have no soldiers, how exactly is our democracy, backed by our guns, the source of the problem.

I think you'll find there a quite a few foreigners out there, with their own guns, and their own politics, who are contributing to the problem. At least to 94% of it.
Posted by PaulL, Saturday, 1 January 2011 9:53:32 PM
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