I know that there are many people who would answer yes to this question but I personally disagree. It’s not that I don’t have a heart either, it’s only because I feel they should only gain entry once they have been fairly processed.
Just because they seem to be fleeing from a country of persecution does not necessarily give them right to entry. We don’t know their background, whether they’re murderers, rapists or even potential terrorists. Take those who are fleeing Afghanistan for instance, you would think that once they had made it to India they would be free from being persecuted and they could seek temporary asylum there. Once there they could take the proper avenues to come to Australia legally. But no, they have to travel from there to Indonesia or Malaysia or something and then they are willing to pay thousands of dollars to risk their life on a rickety boat to Australia.
I’ve even heard that they destroy all papers that identify who they are. Why would they do that unless someone is feeding them some crap? The thing is that failure to produce the right papers only makes processing them that much more difficult causing unnecessary delay.
There is a reason we patrol our shores at great expense, and that is to protect our country. When the liberals were in government the amount of boat people were kept at a minimum but under the current labor government they have jumped astronomically and only because they perceive an easier passage into Australia.
If we want to prevent the loss of life the logical thing to do would be to make it harder for them to come over. We have to stop stories of a life where they get everything handed to them on a silver platter. Only if we stop them from attempting the voyage can we prevent the loss of life.
Opening our arms to them would only encourage more of them to take the risky voyage and this only increases the potential for loss of life.
I often wonder why so many of them, once they get placed into detention centers while waiting to get processed, get so upset, that they have to sew their lips together in protest or to go on hunger strikes or to even go to the extent of setting buildings alight? Surely now that they have reached Australia and have escaped persecution they should have the decency to wait patiently while they get processed? We give them food, a roof over their heads and access to our legal system, all at our expense. I would hate to think what would have happened to them if they acted in such a way in their own country.
I have no objection accepting them as genuine asylum seekers once they have been fully processed, but until then I expect them to behave in a peaceful manner.
It’s an interesting topic to debate upon. The U.S. went through that very same thing back in the 80’s when Cuba was letting all these people leave the country, and it turned out most of them were criminals that we couldn’t identify. However, we kept them in detention for a long time, sometimes up to 3 years, and those people who were legit had to stay there as well. That wasn’t fair either, but what could one do?
That’s exactly my point Mitch, everyone has to get processed first and once they are cleared they are free to come into the country.
When I hear of these people sewing their lips together in protest and going on inane hunger strikes because they don’t like the way they are treated I don’t feel sorry for them at all.
They’ve escaped their ‘persecution’ haven’t they? They no longer fear for their life. They get fed properly have a roof over their heads and even get internet connection, what more do they want. Have a little patience is all I can say.
hi bs artist u r telling in right way but now i want to leave my country means pakistanbcoz there is soo terrorisom and i m hazara shia from quetta of pakistan but the embassay or consulate not give us visa of australia now wat we do. the embassay of australia not give us visa of australia then every hazara shia went to malaysia or indonesia and accept the dangerous way of sea boat now plz i beg to say that reffer us what we do plzzz
I feel truly sorry for you Arham but once you have left Pakistan and got into India, have you not escaped your terrible situation? Then to get to Malaysia or Indonesia you had to travel through several countries, could you not seek refuge in any one of those and then tried to come to Australia through the proper channels?
Coming to Australia on those boats is far too dangerous and you are putting your life and the life of your family at risk. Those people who transport you do not care what happens to you they only want your money.
Hi BS Artist,
Whilst I don’t agree with you, I am glad you have presented your opinion in a clear an concise way. Thank you.
I am a school teacher and I have tried in vain to find an argument against Australia accepting asylum seekers for our Year 12 Ethics Classes to evaluate. Yours is the first article that presented an opinion with a sound argument with little to know emotive language.
With your permission I need to change a couple of words/concepts in your text. You can image that, even thought the students would be quite au fait with ‘modern day – contemporary’ language/ideas, the parents need to be placated. This is even more urgent when this is a year group assessment task.
Once the assessment is done, and if you are interested, I will offer you some reflections by the students.
Ryan (from Victoria, Australia)
Hi Ryan, if there is something here that you think you can use to educate the youth of Australia then you go for it mate.
I’m not sure I quite understand what you are going to do with it though and how you plan to use it. I would appreciate if you could enlighten me. :thumbup_tb: