“If You Send Me Back I’ll Be Killed!”
Australia, as a Nation can not afford to let itself get blackmailed by this kind of pleading. This is for the simple reason that to a large degree people coming here in the boats are not genuine refugees. It is what I feel but can not prove, neither can the pro boat arrival crowd prove that these people are genuine.
How about every pro boat arrival trumpeter volunteer to take on financial responsibility for a boat arrival for two years until they can be proven to be/not to be a risk to Australia.

I think we should apply a simple test

Lock them in a room, & give them a very sharp knife.

If they do kill themselves we will know they were genuine, [probably frightened of what the family will do to them for wasting the money], & should give them a decent burial.

If not, they were lying, we don't want them, send them back.

Would save much money in detention centers, & settlement costs for the smarties.

Hasbeen,

Plumbing the depths this morning.....

A particularly gross comment on your behalf.

This forum is certainly an eye-opener as to how some people think...an extraordinary insight into the meager version of humanity available to the limited of intellectual breadth and compassion.

Dear SPQR,

I watched that particular episode filmed at Gatwick Airport and was impressed by the professionalism of the staff involved. The gentleman in question was dealt with swiftly and found not to be a genuine refugee. He changed his mind regarding seeking "asylum" status very quickly after his bluff was called - which as the airport staff suspected was merely a ploy. The man also had a history of bringing cigarettes into the country.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with this case - except perhaps to taint all asylum seekers with the same brush? That would be most unfair - as according to the available statistics - even during the time of Howard's "Pacific Solution" most asylum seekers were found to be genuine refugees and were allowed to stay. People make up all sorts of excuses for their devious behaviour when caught out - whether it be at air-ports or locally - for drunk-driving, driving without a licence, speeding, etcetera. Asylum seekers however are a different matter. Why would you assume that they are not genuine? They are entitled to seek asylum in this country and their requests must be taken seriously because Australia has signed and International Agreement to take in a certain number of asylum seekers. Of course they will have - security, identity, health checks etc - done, and will be processed as quickly as possible by the appropriate professional authorities. I'm sure that those who aren't genuine will be dealt with accordingly. We need less fear-mongering because there is clear evidence that there is no need to be concerned.

Lexi,

<< I watched that particular episode… The gentleman in question was dealt with swiftly and found not to be a genuine refugee>>

Well, Lexi, if you watched it you didn’t watch it very well, because the gentleman was NEVER “found not to be a genuine refugee”. No determination was made, because he recanted before it got to that stage. The staff did indeed expect it was a ploy, but they had no authority to make a determination.

<< People make up all sorts of excuses for their devious behaviour when caught out>>
Absolutely. It was his attempt to get off with minimal fuss.
He wasn’t serious (at least, this time around!) about seeking asylum.
If he had, he would have done what most asylum seekers do:
1) Ditch his passport /ID ,and
2) Claim to be from one of the UNHCR hot listed countries.

And , If he had done that –who could have faulted him?

As to : << I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with this case >>
I’ll say it again: The purpose of my initial post was to show that certain emotions/behavours that are often cited as evidence of genuineness can easily be manufactured to impress the more naïve.

<< according to the available statistics - even during the time of Howard's "Pacific Solution" most asylum seekers were found to be genuine refugees and were allowed to stay>>
On most occasions our processes cannot accurately determine if someone is a genuine refugee
If they claim to be from one of the danger zones and tell a good story, chances are, they’ll be “found to be a genuine refugee”

Poirot,
How much compassion do your wallet & bank balance permit ?