By Rachel McCarthy:
I moved to Melbourne to study in March this year. As a New Zealander, it is an absolute breeze. A stamp in the passport, no questions asked; walk on through to a new life in Australia. Thousands of New Zealanders, and migrants from across the world, take their place in Australia every week. So, when you look at the statistic that refugee and humanitarian visas make up just 0.03 percent of all visas granted last year, you wonder why this issue has become so politicized and such a sticky policy issue leading into the election.
With Labor behind in the polls and an election rumored for the end of August, the new Prime Minister Julia Gillard kicked this political football quickly; announcing an initiative and policy position on asylum seekers that manages to sound suspiciously like it has the gnashing old chompers of the John Howard-era ‘Pacific Solution’. The Greens have framed the governments new policy, and in particular its view to create an offshore processing facility in East Timor, as ‘Howard’s Pacific Solution in a different postcode’.
As Gillard heads into her second week in office, hundreds of asylum seekers wait in offshore detention facilities like Christmas Island pending the Australian government’s consideration of their applications. Another few thousand wait in onshore detention facilities such as Villawood. Over 500 of these are children, whose mental and physical health deteriorates as the days go by. They are the unfortunate byproduct of decades of poor asylum policy by successive Australian governments.
So what does yesterday’s policy announcement by the government mean for the future of legitimate asylum seekers both onshore and offshore? Does this represent a durable policy solution, or is Labor simply tapping into an emotive issue that resonates with Australian voters to win an election?
Gillard’s fact driven speech, given on Tuesday morning at the Lowy Institute, began with what sounded like good news for those Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have felt the cold freeze on processing applications since April this year. Afghan asylum seekers are still out in the cold. Refugee advocates worry that the government will use the UNHCR report on Sri Lanka selectively to justify a mass rejection of Sri Lankans. The most important part is that each individual asylum seeker has to prove that they face persecution based on their own circumstances. Country of origin has, or should have, little to do with processing a claim anyway.
Gillard’s speech was peppered with little gems. She did discuss the facts, and Australia’s commitment to abiding by the rule of law when it comes to the humane treatment of asylum seekers. She presented a balanced argument to both those concerned with protecting Australian borders, and those concerned with the protection of vulnerable people. She did acknowledge this issue is highly politicized, and placed the blame squarely on the Liberal Party for this. But then, she mentioned those abysmal words that refugee advocates have been fighting against for years – offshore processing. Cue the shudder. These words evoke images of poor infrastructure, and inhumane treatment where legitimate asylum seekers were then released to mainland Australia suffering with both physical and psychological health problems.
The day after the government’s announcement, the dust has settled and the Australian media are questioning the legitimacy of this ‘regional processing facility’ to be planned for East Timor. It seems that Gillard has announced a quick fix policy in the run up to an election. Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta has said he is ‘sympathetic’ but has not agreed to the initiative and has outlined that, even should this initiative come to fruition, East Timor will not become an ‘Asylum Prison’. Gullible New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has come out blindly supporting the announcement of a regional strategy. Gillard’s rhetoric reflected the unplanned nature of the announcement.
“President Ramos Horta told me that he welcomed the conversation about this possibility and I look forward to further consultation and dialogue on developing this initiative into a proposal that would advance the proper and consistent treatment of people arriving without authorization in our region,” she said.
Nice idea. Pity that no one has tried to figure out how this regional solution will play out on the ground. How will this solution be any different from the inhumane conditions asylum seekers faced on Nauru and Manus? In 2002 Gillard is quoted as saying that the Pacific Solution was nothing more than a rushed proposal to win John Howard the election.
I am overwhelmed by a sense of déjà vu.
East Timor, unlike Nauru is a signatory to the Refugee convention, however as the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s CEO, Kon Karapanagiotidis points out, ‘In a country ranked 162 out of 182 countries in the 2009 UN Human Development Index, and fares poorly on key indicators such as life expectancy, access to education and standard of living, how will East Timor have the capacity to humanely care for thousands of asylum seekers?’ Karapanagiotidis notes the launch of this policy leaves us with more questions than answers.
Yesterday’s announcement is nothing more than a missed opportunity to present a durable solution that has reciprocal benefit to both the wellbeing of Australians, and that of asylum seekers. While Gillard attempted to
show she was depoliticizing the argument, nothing new came out of it. This is, unfortunately, the true illustration of a government under pressure to create policies that will appeal to the masses and score some cheap votes. The term ‘political football’, as overused as it may be, really does ring true on this issue.
Share on FacebookRachel McCarthy is a Melbourne based Masters student and Research assistant at the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies (NCEIS). Having just moved here from New Zealand, her main areas of interest are issues of Asylum and Forced Migration, Islam in the West, Multiculturalism and Identity politics. Rachel has previously worked for the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), and currently volunteers with the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, Melbourne.
Why believe NSW coalition health plan works just by add a few dollars in hospital without innovative ideas?
Just listen how Barry O'Farrell convincing voters: “The key to our program is giving medical professionals a bigger say in how health services are delivered in their area. These are the people who know what their patients need…so we will be listening to them”.
Where the Preventive Health program under coalition government’s 8 years health plan is proved that a political mouth show in which spent millions dollar only produced a book for sale, people who have to pay for reading, but not benefit taking.
Take a look below convert Broken hill into a Healthy Las Vergas Broken Hill economy? Link with http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?…
… .
Masealake (Member of Inventor Association QLD)
Why believe coalition economic plan works without revitalize agriculture and manufacture industries??
It’s all about power and money most Politicians and parties wanted above all and after all election?
Just listen how Barry O'Farrell convincing voters: "People are our asset. They are our greatest wealth and they should be given the opportunity to pursue their dreams?" On the issue of economic management, Mr O'Farrell was asked what he thought was the state's greatest source of wealth, given NSW lacked a resources industry.
Take a look below the link subject: “Time for Action” in “Healthy Active Life” program that convert Broken hill into a Healthy Las Vergas Broken Hill economy? Link with http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?…
… .
Masealake (Member of Inventor Association QLD)
Why believe coalition Supporting Local Communities?
It’s all about power and money most Politicians and parties wanted above all and after all election?
Just listen how Barry O'Farrell convincing voters: “Over the last four years I announced positive and practical policies which will help support local communities……..” .
Take a look below the link subject: “Time for Action” in “Healthy Active Life” program that convert Broken hill into a Healthy Las Vergas Broken Hill economy? Link with http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost.cfm?…
… , will you then still believe Barry O'Farrell’s announced positive and practical policies which will help support local communities……..” ?
Will you also believe there were only 1-2 Politicians responding to this greatest “Healthy Las Vergas Broken Hill economy model”?
Why the most Politicians do fail their own test in support community health/economic development who with$1.65 million Tax payer’s money each annual spending for?
Masealake (Member of Inventor Association QLD)
Online is a true asset to finding a retro table as well.
also you can try shopping at thrift stores for a traditional table.
What democratic societies should learn lessen from Australia election 2010:
1.What productive action Gillard Labor government 5 billions to UN buys ousted PM Kevin Rudd’s face?
Voter’s pains did not link to high income Politicians and Bureaucracy.
The Australia historical hung parliament demonstrated the big gap of inequality society between the small educated elite groups who get highest pay by talk feast used mouth work controlling live essential resources of the country in every social platforms against the biggest less educated groups who get lowest pay by hands work squeezed by discriminative policies that sucking live blood from individual poor/less wealth off?
Voters’ voices do not hear?
Voters’ pains do not ease?
Voters’ cries do not care?
Ma kee wai
(Member of Inventor Association Queensland since 1993)
Will Julia Gillard’s re-elected Labor Party government fixed voters voices, pains and crying?
The historical hung parliament demonstrated deep in voter’s heart a fixed must to carry on in vision and action immediately:
Voters’ voices do not hear?
Voters’ pains do not ease?
Voters’ cries do not care?
1.Poverty will not be phase out if no fairer resources to share;
2.Illness will not be reducing if no preventive measurement in real action;
3.Agriculture will not be revitalize if urbanization continuing its path;
4.Housing affordability will not be reach for young generation if government continues cashing from young generation debt by eating out the whole cake of education export revenue without plough back;
5.Manufacture industry will shrink smaller and smaller if no new elements there to power up to survive;
6.Employability will not in the sustainable mode for so long as manufacture and agriculture not going to boost.
Ma kee wai
(Member of Inventor Association Queensland since 1993)
Dear Rachel?you are very far from real life. Europe let them in without clearence,profession,language etc. Now Europe has great troubles-drugs,endless benefits,endless protests and rising fascism and nationalism. .Yuo can easily find out information about it in the internet.
Try to do it-probably you will change your mind.
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