So the news has been all about immigration. (In Australia anyway) Why, I'm not sure. Apparently we have a crises - 2000 people want to come into our country and aren't taking no for an answer. No, seriously. OK, sure, America has 22 million [1] 'illegal' immigrants - about the same as the population of Australia. But we have a smaller population! And if action isn't taken, why that number could increase to 4000! or even 10,000!
Please.
I'm actually very disappointed that the above is not the Government's response to the Oppositions scare mongering. Not "We don't apologise for taking a hard line on illegal immigration". Just - people arrive, we process them. If they qualify for asylum, they get in. Otherwise they go back. If we get more people than we have housing on Christmas island, we'll build more houses. Sure this will cost, but when the choice is between spending money and acting in an inhumane manner... you spend the money. That, along with paying Indonesia to make sure as few immigrants as possible reach our shores, is our government's strategy, but they will do anything to avoid saying it.
The opposition claims this 'sends a message' [2] to all those immigrants, luring them to Australia. As if the prospect of better living, a job and political freedom doesn't do some luring of its own. Hey! Lets get of those things! That will discourage immigration!
Or better yet, why don't we just start sinking boats? Think of all the money we'll save by not having to feed and house these people. Sure, its harsh, but if the alternative is locking up children for years, it starts to look a lot more fair.
[1] Not wild about that site, but is has a number, which is all I was looking for.
[2] Maybe the Opposition should look into signing up for Twitter.
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