Dear Paul,

There are so many facts that Australians get wrong about
asylum seekers. The following link deals with just a few:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/15/theres-no-legal-queue-and-three-other-facts-australians-get-wrong-about-asylum-seekers

Dearest Foxy,

Tickner. Yeah. I liked this bit:

"If this mythical global queue did actually exist, based on the number of refugees there are in the world, people joining the end might wait 170 years to get to the front."

Well ...... yeah !

He said nothing about numbers applying to come to Australia, or anywhere else. He said nothing about whether or not the numbers applying exceeded Australia's annual quota. OF COURSE, refugees would be grateful to go anywhere, but surely many have specified Australia ? How many ? He dodges that issue.

And if you want to use his word 'lottery', go for it: it doesn't make their plight any less fraught, or more certain. Either way, queue-jumpers try to get in ahead by paying smugglers. Or, if you like, dodgy lottery-ticket holders have an unfair advantage of being winners. Queue or lottery, it's a grossly unfair process, and I'm sure you would agree :)

We hear about Sudanese waiting in camps in Kenya for ten years and more. What, you think they haven't heard about Australia, from relations ? Do you think they haven't applied ? Maybe they'll get around to it after, say, seven years ? 'Hmmm, this isn't a bad camp, no water or food on some days, gangs running the place shaking us down and raping our girls, but all in all ... yeah, I think I'll stay here for a while longer and give Australia a miss.'

Really ?

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe,

If you were to do a wider scope of research on the subject of
Australia, queues, and asylum-seekers - it may
help to not only broaden the discussions but actually
encourage them.