arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

By now the whole world must know how Australia treats refugees. At the moment a Norwegian ship which rescued over 400 refugees, believed to be mainly from Afghanistan, is being refused entry to Australia. The government is proposing tough new laws to redefine what a refugee is. Refugees who have arrived by boat are put into inhumane detention centres, sometimes for years.

Enough is enough. PLEASE BOYCOTT AUSTRALIA. This country makes a lot of money out of backpackers and other tourists. SO PLEASE DON'T COME HERE. And when you decide not to come here, please email the Australian Tourism Authority and tell them why you are not coming here. This is their email address: corpaffairs@atc.gov.au/

Also, please boycott Australian goods. If you see something that is Australian made, not only don't buy it, but tell the person selling it why you are not buying it. Ask them not to stock any more Australian goods.

The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs is Mr. Philip Ruddock. This is the website on which you can make comments to him about our treatment of refugees. You should also make comments about our treatment of indigenous Australians, because that is also appalling, as we're sure many of you know. Please email Mr Ruddock and tell him you are boycotting Australia. http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/general/contacts.htm

Email this message to everyone you know. If you know anyone who is thinking of coming to Australia, please ask them not to. AUSTRALIA IS THE SOUTH AFRICA OF THE 21ST CENTURY. AND MANY OF US ARE ASHAMED. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US.

This is a link to a story which is typical of many of the refugees who come to Australia: http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2000/412/412p13.htm

Below is a sample of letters on a recent forum about the Norwegian ship. The balance of letters in terms of who is for letting in refugees and who is against is about right, but all the letters could not be included. Unfortunately the nasty, negative attitudes of many people in this forum are representative of many in Australia and our government is pandering to them.

LETTERS TO NEWSPAPER FORUM:
Mr Ruddock and Mr Howard are absolutely right. It annoys me that Australians ridicule our government over a group of wealthy border jumpers when their illegal boat gets into trouble. Bad luck. They threaten to jump overboard rather than go back to Indonesia! Then jump because it does not sound like refugee status to me. Otherwise get in the queue for this great country of ours and apply legally.
Richard Webbe

The bleeding-heart lefty in me say's let them stay for compassionate reasons. But so does the hard-nosed economic rationalist: Australia's population is bordering on too small in terms of critical mass to develop the economic strength and strategic influence to which Australia aspires. The argument that immigratants steal jobs is absolute nonsense - more people creates more demand for goods and services, thus there will be more jobs - it is so obvious if you actually think about it. Please fellow Australians, stop being so petty minded and miserable - you are not doing yourselves or anyone else a favour by continuing too scapegoat these desperate people.
Doug Coombes

I believe that these people are the responsibility of the owners of the vessel that picked them up. If you rescue someone then you are to care for them. You cannot just dump them in the next port of call and say they are not your responsibility. Australia is taking in enough refugees, and these people should be sent back.
Wayne R. Dyer

The goverment, should turn the "boat people" back. To admit them would place a strain on our limited resourses.Where does it stop? Most I suspect are economic refuges, being told by relatives here of what a soft touch Australia is.
John Ilsley

Whilst every humanitarian effort should be made to look after the health of these people, we must not be seen as a haven for refugees to come as they please. People smuggling must stop and an International delema of this nature will advertise to the World that Australia can no longer accept it. It will also focus the world's attention on the problem and plight of these people and make all nations act to stop the unsatisfactory practices of both the smugglers and the governments of the countries from where these unfortunate refugees come.
Alain O'Brien

The paying refugees aboard the Tampa should be disembarked at their port of disembarkation. They should be made to apply for entry through the prescribed channels as do the other unfortunates in their situation. If Australia succumbs to this form of emotional blackmail, it will open the floodgates forever.
M.A. Fettes

The sheer ignorance of my fellow countrymen is outstanding. It's those hypocritical Australians that call Mr. Howard's decision "unhumanitarian" that will be screaming in time to come about our lack of hospital beds and rate of unemployment and increased number of homeless! Not to mention the ever-increasing crime rate. How readily would you all open your own homes and clothe and feed the 438 Afghans on board that ship ? 'Cos I sure as hell don't want one cent of my hard earned taxes going toward those disease ridden criminals. I invite them to jump .. or starve .. or be sent back. Good on you John Howard, stay strong, you've won my vote.
Sonja Jensen

I fully support John Howards stance on this issue. Enough is enough. If we keep letting them in, we'll never rid ourselves of the problem. It may sound cold and harsh, but these people have to understand that there is a right and a wrong way to enter another country and expect to stay legally. Where are we going to put them if we do accept them? Our detention centres are already overcrowded now. Then they riot etc if not allowed to stay here. Do we really need these types of people in our communities? If we do let them land on our shores, take them straight to the airport and return them to their own country. I hope Mr Howard does not buckle on this issue, as we are finished if he does.
Kirsten Holdsworth

I am appalled that the rest world is able to see how pathetic our government is. We could go back and say that most of our ancestors, grandparents and even parents have been "boat people" to some extent. What right has the government to refuse entry to these people who are escaping from obviously deplorable situations within their own country? Are they encroaching on Mr Howard or Mr Ruddock's life, No. They don't know these people, they will never meet then. They don't what disasters befalls them if these two bureaucrats decide to send them back.
Mr Howard said along time ago that he didn't want to give One Nation preferences but in some way they are doing it now by adopting One Nation's policy. Listen to the United Nations, listen to humanity and let these people be given medical attention and hope.
Lisa Brinkley

Just reading your stupid and completely wrong essay.

If you actually look at the facts Australia makes more refugees austalian citizen per head of population than many European countries and the US.

Maybe you should sit down and actually look at things instead of jumping to conclusions. You know nothing of the situation and sit there watching the TV instead of getting off you lazy ass and find out what is happening !!!!!!!!!

I agree with the last persons comments.

Sure many of the refugees who head our way end up spending years in our detention centres. Why is this you ask? Because of our appeals process. If they are rejected (i.e. the panel who reviews their case does not feel that they are indeed refugees) they are allowed to appeal the descision. This then goes through the court...appeal after appeal after appeal...costing the taxpayers of this country many thousands of dollars and taking many years.

Many of the people who seek refugee status here are not fleeing persecution - but merely looking at Australia as 'the lucky country...where they pay you not to work...and you get free medical...and free education....'

This is a fact...and unfortunately because of these people, the process for legitimate refugees being accepted into this country becomes more difficult.

I believe that the refugees should be accepted...not because they are refugees fleeing persecution and trying to enter the country without following the due process (there are means by which they can do this through the Australian embassy in their country)...but because they have been rescued from a sinking ship. This issue is not the responsibility of the Norwegean tanker that rescued them. It is for the Australian and Indonesian governments to sort out.

Australia is a mere drop in the ocean in terms of its population. Per capita - we take in more refugees than other western countries. The question I ask is - who is going to support all these people? I'd be really interested to know how much of a contribution the person who wrote this article makes to supporting this country!!!

Mark.