Boat People

[Julia]

Mr Rudd's spin doctors must be working overtime to put a positive spin on his likely back down on his "hard line" stance.

It will go something like this;

"Unlike the previous government I make no apology for adopting the humane approach not to force these unfortunate people off the boat... etc"

Yep, the PR firm will be hard at it right now.
And I reckon the phrase 'make no apology' will be in there at least three times.
This seems to be his current favourite phrase. Probably thinks it sounds really, really tough, to go with the other favourite phrase, "the tough decisions".

And Bunyip, you're so right about the Zimbabweans. Ditto the South Africans.
All those I've met are good people, hardworking and decent.

I can't help feeling disgusted that the rest of the international community has simply watched the destruction of Zimbabwe.

 

[Chris45]

Excellent post bunyip!!!

 

[Calliope]

Meanwhile, most of the truly suitable people who want to come here, people like white Zimbabweans who speak perfect English, are culturally similar and compatible with us, are educated and have the ability to slot into our society and become productive citizens immediately, are kept out.
It's downright pathetic.

This couldn't be by chance. It seems to be a deliberate policy to select people whose cultures and lifestyles are so different from ours that assimilation is virtually impossible.

A high proportion of these have few relevant job or language skills, which makes them more welfare dependant. However this policy is not going to change if the UK example is any guideline.

 

[noco]

It is unbelivable as to how this weasel Rudd is still so popular in the polls.

The Shri Lankans and Indonesia have got Rudd over a barrel and he just does not know what to do.

He says to his opposition "well what is your solution". If I were Malcolm Turnbull I would give him the reply he deserves."You got yourself into this mess, you work it out".

He (Rudd) was warned by the Federal Police that if he abandoned the Pacific solution he would have an influx of illegal immigrants. I do not know why Turnbull has not used this against Rudd!

 

[derty]

There are hundreds of thousands of white Zimbabweans who would love the opportunity to come to Australia. But the only way they can get in here is if they have previous business experience, a certain amount of capital, and give a commitment to start or buy a business in Australia within a certain time - I think it's 18 months or two years.

Compare this to how black Africans such as Sudanese refugees or these bloody boat people are treated here.....they can come in here, don't have to fulfil anywhere near the same criteria, get government handouts right from the start, don't have to start businesses, don't have to possess the skills to get a job, don't have to be English speakers. Every time I drive past Centrelink there are a mob of Sudanese hanging around outside. It's utterly ridiculous.

This idiot Rudd needs shooting for the stuff-up he's made with the illegal immigration issue.
He dismantled the tough measures put in place by Howard - measures that were proving very effective in addressing the problem of immigrants arriving illegally by boat.
We're spending almost three quarters of a billion dollars annually on giving them handouts, and the figure is increasing constantly.
Meanwhile, most of the truly suitable people who want to come here, people like white Zimbabweans who speak perfect English, are culturally similar and compatible with us, are educated and have the ability to slot into our society and become productive citizens immediately, are kept out.
It's downright pathetic.

FYI as of 2001 there were only about 50,000 white Zimbabweans in the country down from 250-300,000 in the mid 1970's. I know of several Zimbabwean families working in my town and they are all really nice people. Funny thing is 3/4 of them are black families. Most of these families have at least one professional worker and their English is impeccable.

If you have a look at the most recent numbers from 07-08. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/immigration-update/update-dec08.pdf

You will see that the total arrivals given residency in Australia of both refugees and migrants was about 149,000. Comprising 103k normal migration, 35k Kiwi's and 9.5k Humanitarian/Refugees.

If you compare the arrivals by country there were 5166 South Africans, 1019 Zimbabweans and 1018 Sudanese.

It's an interesting document, have a read.

 

[derty]

This couldn't be by chance. It seems to be a deliberate policy to select people whose cultures and lifestyles are so different from ours that assimilation is virtually impossible.

Might this be because most countries that have cultures and lifestyles similar to ours are politically stable 1st world countries and are not producing refugees?

These countries with similar cultures and lifestyles to ours are still well represented in the migration figures.

 

[caribean]

Might this be because most countries that have cultures and lifestyles similar to ours are politically stable 1st world countries and are not producing refugees?

These countries with similar cultures and lifestyles to ours are still well represented in the migration figures.

Well put Dirty.
Since we are getting our knickers in a twist about who's got the right to be here, who hasn't, and who's culture should be the dominant one in this country, then i would imagine we should be mainly accepting people with dark skin and preferably speaking one of the Aboriginal dialects.
Take a look at some real #'s of refugees we accept, compare to other first world economies.
I understand we don't want to advertise the fact, but if these people are trying so hard to get here, then maybe they're the ones we want?

 

[Tink]

Might this be because most countries that have cultures and lifestyles similar to ours are politically stable 1st world countries and are not producing refugees?

These countries with similar cultures and lifestyles to ours are still well represented in the migration figures.

well said

Every time we get some one new, its the same rigma roll.

 

[bigdog]

Why was the Oceanic Viking being in Indonesian waters?

 

[wayneL]

...its the same rigma roll.

It's rigmarole.

 

[Calliope]

It's rigmarole.

No wonder I couldn't find it in my "Handbook of Exotic Dishes." I thought it may have been a food served to new arrivals.

 

[Calliope]

I understand we don't want to advertise the fact, but if these people are trying so hard to get here, then maybe they're the ones we want?

You've hit the nail on the head. The boat people are showing the initiative and skills that make good migrants. On the other hand Africans being displaced in their homelands by religious and/or tribal wars are selected on the basis of who are the most desperate.

The number that we take is really only a token gesture to make us feel good. It doesn't make a scrap of difference to the standards of living to those left behind.

 

[Julia]

Why was the Oceanic Viking being in Indonesian waters?

Bigdog, as I understand it, the asylum seekers' boat was in distress (not sure what that includes) in international waters, but it so happened the Oceanic Viking was closest to it, so did the rescue.

It's rigmarole.

Now, if I'd pointed that out, there would have been Gumby Learner or someone like him immediately jumping on me for being a pedant!

 

[derty]

You've hit the nail on the head. The boat people are showing the initiative and skills that make good migrants.

Joe, you might want to check the IP address of Calliope's recent posts. I think someone may have hacked his account! :

 

[mellifuous]

It is unbelivable as to how this weasel Rudd is still so popular in the polls.

The Shri Lankans and Indonesia have got Rudd over a barrel and he just does not know what to do.

He says to his opposition "well what is your solution". If I were Malcolm Turnbull I would give him the reply he deserves."You got yourself into this mess, you work it out".

He (Rudd) was warned by the Federal Police that if he abandoned the Pacific solution he would have an influx of illegal immigrants. I do not know why Turnbull has not used this against Rudd!

hear, hear....

and this from the great visionary M. Fielding:-

"... Yesterday Family First senator Steve Fielding admitted the Rudd Government's changes that he supported to Australia's immigration and border protection laws were having unintended consequences. ..."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26279175-421,00.html

As for M. Turnbull, I would say 'bring back John Howard'.

Government is only effective with an effective opposition, and an effective opposition we don't have.

 

[Out Too Soon]

I dont understand why everyone gets hung up on boat people. If we are talking illegal immigrants, then most of the estimated 60,000 illegal immigrants in Australia are not asylum seekers hoping to be judged as refugees. Most illegal immigrants arrive by air and overstay their visas. They are generally tourists, students or people granted temporary-residence permits. They do not get much media attention and the Government does not appear to consider them a serious threat.

Maybe we should be worrying more about the tourists than the boat people.

Exactly the point I was going to make Prospector. Most illegal immigrants arrive by plane & are far less desparate than the "boat people". It's heartless & cruel to turn away boat people.
Shame on you Australia & shame on Cruddy for being such a weak wimp not standing up for human rights & instaed kow-towing to the media created xenophobes.

 

[Calliope]

Joe, you might want to check the IP address of Calliope's recent posts. I think someone may have hacked his account! :

I don't know what point you are trying to make, but you obviously haven't read my post # 30 on this thread.

 

[Happy]

We write pages and pages of crap that will not influence our leaders who have democratically elected license to do as they please.


Just hope, we will not have Bali or 9/11 on our soil !

 

[Wysiwyg]

We write pages and pages of crap that will not influence our leaders who have democratically elected license to do as they please.


Just hope, we will not have Bali or 9/11 on our soil !

They absolutely determined to get us you reckon?

 

[Happy]

Exactly the point I was going to make Prospector. Most illegal immigrants arrive by plane & are far less desparate than the "boat people". It's heartless & cruel to turn away boat people.
Shame on you Australia & shame on Cruddy for being such a weak wimp not standing up for human rights & instaed kow-towing to the media created xenophobes.

Do not forget that arrivals by plane have right papers to enter

Boaters often destroy all their identity papers, pay lots more than air ticket.