How to stop the boats?

Well we've tried razor wire, children in detention,
we've seen riots, incidents of self-harm, suicide,
the Tampa controversy, and various human rights
violations - and yet the boats still keep on coming.
Our anger has been directed at the so called - "facts"
that both the tabloid press and politicians keep telling
us - that these people are stealing Australian jobs,
government benefits and land.
That these people have a range of attractive options to
pick from.

So why do they make the arduous decision
to leave their homes and family to come here, especially
when we offer such excellent conditions - like razor wire,
indefinite detention, less than basic medical aid,
no Centrelink payments while in detention, why on earth
do they insist on incidents of self-harm, suicide,
riots, and other various human rights violations when they
have it so good here?

Let us continue not to discuss how to manage the flow
of refugees to this country, instead let us continue on
how to deter and stifle the flow, and demonise these
people.

And in the meantime we can continue to proudly sing our national anthem's lyrics,

"For those who've come across the seas, we've boundless
plains to share."

Perhaps we should add - "But only if you're "one of us."

Lexi,
Like others with your view of this issue, you leave otu the important facts.

A. That the previous government had the problem solved but this stupid current mob went and stuffed it.

B. The illegals are shonks that fly to Malaysia and then once in Indonesia and aboard a boat either sell their docs to others or destroy them to prevent proof of identity.

C. They set out deliberately to lie and deceive our immigration officials with the sole intent of gaining permanent residence.

As for the national anthem, we are a very generous nation, just look at our overseas aid and the number of legal migrants we accept, and we just increased the number of refugees accepted.

Oh, and a previous Labor PM altered the lyrics of 'Advance Australia Fair' after it was approved by the people. Another Labor deceit!

Dear Banjo,

We've covered this ground many times previously.
However you persist with your usual mantra
even to the extent of ignoring facts supplied
by the DIAC's own documents. The real burden
ofassisting refugees is borne by the world's
poorest nations. Of the 71 that assist refugees
Australia is rannked 32nd. 84% of all asylum seekers
seeking asylum in Asutralia -
are found to be legitimate refugees and are able to
stay in Australia. And 97% of applicants from Iraq and
93% from Afghanistan have all been found to be genuine
refugees.

Demonisation has been the name of the game in the tabloid
treatment of the asylum seeker issue. Politicians and
press have collaborated for more than a decade to foster
fear, to dog whistle to xenophobia, to reframe and
dominate this debate as a crisis of our security. And so
it is that people now discuss not how best to manage a flow
of refugees to this country, but instead how to deter and
stifle it.

The problem is not going to go away and while you may
criticise this government - the problem is not about to
go away for the next one no matter what you choose to
believe. World-wide strive is increasing not decreasing.
Refugees will continue to flee.

cont'd ...

BTW ; The only changes that the Labor government
made to our National Anthem was to shorten the
anthem and omit the over the top colonial references
that were felt to be inappropriate in today's
Australia. "For those who've come across the seas,
we've boundless plains to share," was not changed
from the original.

Lexi - Quote "The real burden of assisting refugees is borne by the world's poorest nations. Of the 71 that assist refugees Australia is ranked 32nd. 84% of all asylum seekers seeking asylum in Australia -
are found to be legitimate refugees and are able to stay in Australia."

Nice piece but completely misleading, in so far as most of the others give them a tent some food and water nothing else then they have to go home.

The UNHCR budget for 25 million refugees is only $3.7 Billion we spend that trying to handle less than .25% of that.

If the person has no documents and lies it is very hard to prove them wrong also the people doing the assessment did say they were told what to do IE find them legal. The refugee advocates quickly tell them what to say and how to answer the questions to give the illusion they are real refugees.

You also conveniently posted a link to refugees but fail to answer comments that show these refugees are only Economic refugees. I will re post it again later for you.

Poirot - Please show me your badge that shows you have been given the job as the etiquette police for this site.
You will not dictate how I post thing, so get over it

Banjo, you have a very strong position on 'boat people'. Can I ask what is your position when it come to 'visa over stayers'? There are thousands of people who have arrived by plane and simply failed to leave when required, taking jobs from Australians, often working cash in hand and paying no tax, and at the same time breaking down work conditions.

Cohenite, what a superior intellect you must be, such a conceited expert if there ever was one. Quote; "as far as I can see islam is the perfect package for conquering other cultures" How does islam reciprocate fairness, openess and tolerance Paul, you dope?" "That is what we are dealing with here, a delusion based on the ego and sense of moral worth, of chumps like Paul." Where have I posted that I support the Islamic religion? Your rants get worse, they may go down well with other like minded individuals, but there is little of substance in your generalisations about asylum seekers.