Backdown on asylum seekers
The Howard Government’s proposed changes to immigration laws have been withdrawn from the Senate by the government after it became obvious that the bill would be defeated there, with one or more government senators either voting against it, or abstaining from voting.
The bill would have required all asylum seekers arriving on the mainland to be sent to Nauru for processing. If found to be refugees, they would have been resettled in a third country. Defeat of this legislation is a good thing … Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers has been absolutely shameful, and should be highly embarassing for us internationally. Government policy has been developed as a reaction to the redneck vote, and implemented by incompetent, uncaring bullies in the Department of Immigration. The government has absolutely played racism and fears about terrorism and security for all they are worth.
Sure, Australia has a right to determine who comes here and under what terms. But the heavy-handed approach taken to deal with relatively small numbers of asylum seekers has been totally out of proportion with whatever the perceived problem was. Sure, there are going to be some bad people among the people seeking asylum, but surely its not behind our government and its public servants to be able to weed them out and process the genuine refugees humanely and quickly. Instead the government has gone down the path of “all boat people are muslims = potential terrorists”. Shameful pandering to the xenophobes, nothing else!
I’m very pleased that the latest legislation has failed. Its not exactly unwinding some of the bad law that already exists already but at least its not getting worse.
Interesting too that John Howard is saying there will no recriminations for those backbenchers who opposed the legislation. Maybe not officially, but I’m sure clowns like this will try to damage them within the party.
Technorati Tags: asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, redneck vote
August 14th, 2006 at 8:02 am
Interesting. Senator Troeth, who we can assume was the non compliant Senator, seems above reproach from minor minions and even Mr Howard.