Australian values? Keeping slaves shot up (SHUR-UP!) – but it is being modified in Internet era, as traditional xenophobia, bigotry and racism have been exposed round a globe dramatically.

It's quite clear that there are political motivations behind Andrews's tirade.

The actual reasoning behind the reduction in Sudanese refugees is to make way for refugees from other areas, including Iraq. This isn't racist, and overall, Australia takes a large number of refugees per capita.

So I don't really have any problems with our refugee policy - Australia does itself proud, and there hasn't been actual attempts to scale this back.
Our refugee intake has remained as something to be proud of under Howard, so funnily enough despite his posturing on issues such as Tampa, we do a reasonable job.

What does bother me however, is that despite doing a good job with refugees, our government wishes to capitalise on xenophobic elements within the community. They're actually playing this both ways.

When Kevin Andrews launched his stupid, misinformed attack on the Sudanese, he chose to cite reasons that would encourage xenophobia instead of taking a reasonable line.

This is something Howard has done as well - see the Tampa incident. It's quite bizarre that this government actually is quite reasonable in terms of refugee and migration policy, but persist with dog whistling gutter politics around election time.

I'm just hoping it backfires on them - though there does seem to be a large element of the community which does indeed buy into the migration hysteria, so it's possible it will score them some votes.

On the other hand, it's possible it will cut both ways... if Labor plays their cards right, they may also be able to have a bob each way... see, the xenophobes may become aware of the fact that Howard's policies have actually been quite reasonable in terms of migration and refugee intake, it's just his rhetoric that is warped.

In which case, if Labor keeps pointing out that they agree with Andrews and Howard's generous migration and refugee policies but deplore his racist rhetoric, then perhaps it will cost them...

Banjo

The purpose of OLO is to set people thinking. A submission to OLO has to be under 2000 words. As the submission has to compete for a visitor’s attention, it really has to be about 1000 words. There is only space to make a point. There is no space to pre-empt every likely criticism.

Ifram put forward a valid point. By adding additional perspective not in Ifram’s article, you made a contribution. That is what you should have done. What you should not have done is included the words SHAME. SHAME. SHAME.

So Irfan, what Australian values were you practicing when you ran as a Liberal candidate (in the seat of Reid in 2001) and when you identify yourself as a right-winger?

This was the same year the TAMPA issue exploded and won Howard another term.

How about you write a piece about this episode in your life instead of trying to re-invent yourself as a socialist humanitarian.

The horror that many of the Sudanese refugees in Australia have gone through is beyond belief. They have fled a war that has been going on for more than 40 years – there’s no hope of going home once “normality” is restored, in many cases their homes are gone and there’s no prospect of peace. And the culture, society and economy they come from is radically different from ours. We should offer them compassion and patience as they struggle to adjust.

One of the highest priorities for many Sudanese refugees is to try to reunite their families by bringing them here. Imagine your daughter in a refugee camp in daily peril of rape, or your pre-teen son hiding from militias that would dragoon him as a child soldier, and you’ll get an idea of the anxiety some feel and the priority they give this.

The cruellest thing about this announcement is that it makes reunion – already a complex and arbitrary process taking years – an even remoter possibility.

Drip!drip!drip! That Chinese water torture disguised as BAd Old Racist Enmity v Australia again.{BORE for short}
There is nothing more racist than an antiracist is there?
Why these malcontents don't go back to their perfect homelands and stay there I cannot imagine.
Us dear old armchair nazis would be happy to refund their fare and all will be happy in our house. Best of luck with yours Irfan, looks a bit messy over there.But then that is what you would be accustomed to.