Category Archives: refugees

BERNAMA – Malaysia, Australia Agree On Cooperative Transfer Of Asylum Seekers

BERNAMA – Malaysia, Australia Agree On Cooperative Transfer Of Asylum Seekers This one comes as a surprise. Just when you think human beings can’t be objectified much further, my country turns them into a trade commodity. “We’ll give you 800 of ours and, over time, we’ll take 4000 of yours.” What does this solve? HowContinue reading “BERNAMA – Malaysia, Australia Agree On Cooperative Transfer Of Asylum Seekers”

Asylum Seekers: Back to the Future…

De-mothballing the detention centre at Manus Island heralds a revisit to some of the darker aspects of Australia’s recent history on refugee policy. In the foreseeable future, our government’s intransigent insistence on off-shore processing of asylum seeker assessment will polarise the Australian population even further as we discuss “them”. The genius of off-shore processing keeps us fromContinue reading “Asylum Seekers: Back to the Future…”

Tackling Australia’s “Illegal Immigrant” mythology

One gets tired of battling the sound bites, but for the sake of the latest casualty, a 19 year old Afghan kid who could not stand or understand his detention any longer, I offer the following: Can you guess which is Australia’s graph line without looking at the legend? We are not being inundated. WeContinue reading “Tackling Australia’s “Illegal Immigrant” mythology”

Christmas Island – chickens come home to roost

PM – Police poised for more violence on Christmas Island 18/03/2011. Asylum seekers locked up indefinitely behind gates in overcrowded quarters on a tiny and remote Indian Ocean island. Some have been there 20 months with no knowledge of expected outcomes. A plot from “Lost”? Nope, its what Australia’s Border Protection Policy looks like andContinue reading “Christmas Island – chickens come home to roost”

When the circus accentuates tragedy…

I’ve just been listening to politicians conscientiously “questioning” the rationale for flying bereaved asylum seeker detainees the long distance from Christmas Island to relatives’ funerals in Sydney. These are the victims of the shipwreck off Christmas Island late last year. “Why not lay them to rest on Christmas Island?” they opine. Forget the fact thatContinue reading “When the circus accentuates tragedy…”

The SIEV-221 drama: lessons from a disaster

It’s only a few weeks since a maritime refugee disaster occurred off our coast. While the aftermath has largely slipped off the radar of mainstream awareness – the question of developing humane asylum seeker policy remains untouched. Jack Smit of SafeCom is one of the most relentless and compassionate commentator/lobbyists I have come across forContinue reading “The SIEV-221 drama: lessons from a disaster”

What more could you want in an Aussie Saint?

It seems Australia’s disadvantaged, including indigenous, mentally ill, and those seeking asylum, have a newly sanctioned advocate. Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop has become Australia’s first Saint.   On a day of celebration owned by Catholic and non-Catholic, religious and secular, believer and non-believer, one of our own has been ushered into the select company ofContinue reading “What more could you want in an Aussie Saint?”

“Illegals” no more!

Media Release from SafeCom West Australian Daily sets national tone on ‘Illegals Tag’ “The West Australian, WA Newspapers’ flagship, is setting the tone for the nation in the new year by firmly committing itself to scrutinise and edit Letters to the Editor so no references to “illegals”, “illegal immigrants” or “illegal refugees” will make itContinue reading ““Illegals” no more!”

Book Review: There, Where the Pepper Grows

 Bem Le Hunte, There, Where the Pepper Grows, (HarperCollins, 2005) is a compelling read, tracing the story told by protagonist Benjamin, a Polish Jew who, fleeing Nazi occupation with wife and childhood sweetheart (circumstances of wartime survival inform us these are not the same person), ends up in Calcutta. Here, with attendant complications, they make theirContinue reading “Book Review: There, Where the Pepper Grows”