Two Liberal Primers, Mike Baird from NSW and Will Hodgman, Tasmania, have offered to help with any increased effort by Australia in assisting with the humanitarian crises unfolding in Europe. Liberal back benchers Craig Laundy and Russell Broadbent have called on the government to do more. Bill Shorten has joined the calls for an increase in the number of Syrian refugees. Tony Abbott has dispatched immigration Minister Peter Dutton to Geneva to hold talks with UNHCR about what further contribution Australia can make. Abbott has not committed to numbers, other than to say “significant”, which indicates a substantial increase on the more than 4400 people from Syria and Northern Iraq Australia took last year.
From what I have read so far I must commend those Liberals who have stuck their necks out on this, it would be so easy for them to go with the flow of the extreme right of the party, and condemn these human beings to their fate, as I am sure there are many on the forum who are ready and willing to do so

Dear Paul,

Thank You for this discussion.

The Saturday Age, Sept. 5th, 2015
pointed out - here in Australia, one of the wealthiest
and most fortunate parts of our planet we should never
forget that there are millions of people across the world
who are prepared to die to have a chance to approximate
a lifestyle we sometimes take for granted.

For the most part these people are fleeing persecution and
life-threatening conflicts. The overwhelming majority as The
Age states of the 60 million displaced people in the world,
a staggering and historically large number, do not want to
leave their homes, their communities, the lives they have
built.

The Age says - they are desperate human beings. The truth
is that the number of asylum seekers at any given time is
primarily a function of local strife (push factors) rather
than immigration policies elsewhere (pull factors).

Australia, the world's 12th largest economy despite having
only about one third of 1 per cent of the world's population,
is a wonderfully wealthy and lucky nation. Much of what we have
achieved is the result of hard work and decency, of cherishing
each other's rights and enshrining them in a system based
on opportunity and democracy, on the rule of law,
on family values and community.

And much of our fortune comes from -
We happen to live on a part of the planet blessed with
abundant natural resources.

There are many things we need to improve here.
But that does not mean we cannot simultaneously show
compassion and enlightened self-interest by reaching out to
a lot more of the world's needy during these terrible times.

I agree with The Age editorial when it states that we have
to be part of a global community.

That is why it is so important that now our current
government has changed its mind and decided to show the
world that Australia is truly decent and strong by agreeing
to increase its intake of refugees. We will now be seen as
global leaders, and we shall have more ability to influence
events beyond our borders.

Foxy and Paul, if we are one of the wealthiest countries, why on earth is our health system so under funded, or why are our seniors forced to either wash their cloths of heat their rooms, as they can't afford both.

We have unemployment at record highs, and that's using the fudged figures government agencies provide plus, our youth unemployment is at crisis point. Yet you want to bring more moths in, more that will in all likelihood be totally non productive, resulting in even more strain on our already under funded essentials.

While most of us can't help but feel sorry for these people, it's pointless offering assistance if we don't have the money.

Besides, whether we like it or not, many if these people have placed themselves in the position by uncontrolled breeding. A tough stand but so very true. I had two children because that's what I felt I could afford. Surely parents have to take responsibility fir their children, regardless of where they live.

As has been said before, how many are you two prepared to billet in your homes?

Yes, at last the PM is listening to members of his own party, as well as others in Parliament on this issue.

I have been embarrassed up to now at the cold shoulder Abbott was showing to the over-run European countries trying to manage this crisis alone.
If we were in the same situation as them, I have no doubt they would offer to take some refugees, and who knows what lies ahead with our Indonesian and Malaysian neighbours?

I would hate for many Aussies to feel the same as some others on this forum and make this a religious/racist issue. We are proud Aussies and most of us are brighter than that, thank goodness.

The Australian magnet. What other countries give refugees, no wonder they want to come here.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-03/how-asylum-seeker-help-compares-in-major-european-union-nations/6745490

Dear Rehctub,

Your questions should be addressed to the current
government. They have to stop blaming others and take
responsibility for their own incompetence. Hence their
slide in the polls.

Dear Paul,

Did you happen to watch "Q and A," last night?

The general consensus seems not only that Australia should
increase its intake of refugees, but that it should also
send financial aid as well. Also, the figure of 30,000
was mentioned which is small compared to what countries
in Europe are taking and providing financial assistance
as well.

Interesting though that the US is not helping out financially
or taking refugees - when as someone mentioned their
involvement in the region has contributed to the causes of
this tragedy.