Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott in Gutter Politics over Asylum Seekers
scumbags
Make no mistake, the outright refusal of Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison to move an inch on the asylum seeker impasse has absolutely nothing to do with the Coalition’s new found heartfelt sympathy for asylum seekers and everything to do with wanting to destroy Julia Gillard over this difficult and contentious issue.
The evidence is clear. Almost overnight the Coalition has transformed its rhetoric from one that demonised asylum seekers as “disease spreaders” (Morrison) a claim that was subsequently refuted by an infectious disease physician, as well as calling asylum seekers “illegals” (almost everyone else in the Liberal Party).
The nadir was Joe Hockey’s crocodile tears in Parliament this week apparently all cut up about the prospect of unaccompanied minors being shipped offshore to Malaysia. Apparently Nauru is okay though.
Not to be outdone, bleeding heart lefty Sarah Hanson-Young turned on the waterworks in an Oscar worthy performance that appeared both feigned, melodramatic and completely over the top.
Over the past two days, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard never once spoke directly about the policy impasse. Neither have Immigration Minister Chris Bowen and Scott Morrison.
Instead, both sides of politics have engaged in a battle by media and press conference.
On such an important issue it’s been nothing short of a disgrace.
At 5.15pm yesterday Morrison and Abbott fronted the media positively gloating to announce with some artificial sense of gravity that the deal was sunk.
Abbott could hardly contain his delight as he laid the blame pure and simply at the feet of the prime minister while completely overlooking his responsibility and profound obligation to reach a common ground and break the impasse.
It was a disgrace.
The tactic is obvious. They simply don’t want to be part of any sort of solution that might work.
It’s in the Coalition’s interests for the boats to keep coming and for the mass drownings to continue.
It’s political opportunism at its most contemptuous, and if there was any doubt that Tony Abbott and his mob of hate-filled racists will say and do anything to destroy the Government it has now, beyond any shadow of a doubt, been removed.
theguttertrash.com 
One thing – you can’t take politics out of politics. Whatever position any party takes on this, or any other, issue – there will always be a political component. Bleating about the “politics” of a debate is political tactic in itself. Even Sarah Hanson Young’s two-year old meltdown has its political content. The only alternative is a one-party state.
The coalition have had a single, strong position on this issue ever since Howard introduced Nauru. Labor have flip-flopped all over the shop. Labor must either get their preferred model through with the help of their partners, The Greens, or go back to the model that worked – something they should have done the moment they panicked and realised they had no idea what to do about the re-animation of the illegal boat trade.
“…..Instead, both sides of politics have engaged in a battle by media and press conference.”
Oh Really
Tony Abbott disclosed this morning that he made a phone call to the PM around 1pm Wednesday to discuss the issue with the PM.
She didn’t bother to return his call and instead went on toattack him in Parliament.
It would seem she already had her day scripted out before her and a pesky phone call from Abbott was not to get in the way of her concrete plans for the day.
This is a mess that the ALP created.
The Oppn just want a return to policies that actually worked.
They don’t want further experiments
The smug look on Phoney Tony’s face while he explained why the Coalition wouldn’t support the legislation said it all. A few drowned refugees, just a bit of collateral damage that helps makes the Gillard Government smell even worse.
So glad that I’m in the demographic that Phoney Tony knows he has to keep onside to support the NO Coalition. We’ll be pretty safe from the depredations of PT & the NO Coalition when they romp into government with a huge majority that enables them to implement their ultra conservative polices on the gormless Australian voter.
All I can say with 1 vote is: “Poor b*gger, my country!”
The coalition have had a single, strong position on this issue ever since Howard introduced Nauru.
They never gave a flying fuck about the UNHCR back then, their desire to ‘turn boats back’ show they still don’t. At least Labor, for all its shortcomings, and flip-flopping, still demand inclusion of the UNHCR oversight in their policy.
Barrackers should take off their rose coloured glasses and recognise that the Island Solution is the policy which worked.
Julian Burnside nails it…
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/asylum-seeker-impasse-pathetic-qcs-plan-to-stop-the-boats-20120629-216da.html#ixzz1z8nr37xC
Hear hear!
TomR said, “They never gave a flying fuck about the UNHCR back then, their desire to ‘turn boats back’ show they still don’t.”
That’s fair enough. Pure politicking by the Libs there. Doesn’t change the solid consistency of their position, though. And your attempt to defend Labor’s Malaysian Solution as UNHCR-overseen is a far bigger and more hypocritical load of hogwash. Labor now want what Howard created – they’re just too shallow, sneaky and spin-obsessed to be the tiniest bit honest about it.
They never gave a flying fuck about the UNHCR back then
Of course they didn’t……that’s why they inserted the clause that ultimately caused the Malaysian Solution to be illegal.
G’day Victor … 🙂
The only alternative is a one-party state.
As I too have suggested … no party politics – just independent members who can actually represent their constituents …. Parlaiment then votes in a PM … who can then select a Cabinet on merit, skill, knowledge and experience … a Parlaiment that truly rpresents the COUNTRY not vested interests …
And to be able to run as a candidate they must be trained and assessed as competent … just like any other “profession” and/or trade …
About as much chance as a Republic I’d say …
i>Julian Burnside nails it…
Close to what we “attempted” to discuss “rationally” a couple of days ago, sreb …
that’s why they inserted the clause that ultimately caused the Malaysian Solution to be illegal.
It’s not surprising then that howard made damn sure it never made it to the court then, isn’t it?
As for Burnside, “I suspect that their real concern is to stop people getting here full stop,” he said.
I guess he forgets about the 4,000 AS’s included in the Malaysian solution, and Labors long term goal for regional processing?
So now Burnside wants offshore processing…………..flip……………flop
The Indos have not signed the UNHCR either
I don’t recall much discussion about the “Pacific Solution” being implemented because it was considered a welfare and safety measure. I think the hype from Howard etc at the time was more about “queue jumping”.
…and the ALP participated in it all, up to their elbows.
So when all those ALP barrackers now defend/applaud the “Malaysian Solution”, they should have the good grace to acknowledge their volte-face. So should Gillard, if she is genuinely interested in any bipartisanship on the issue.
———————————-
Meanwhile, Julian Burnside makes some good points.
Though, as I’ve said, there appears to be no real program of publicising the down side of people smuggling to the Javanese fishermen – goal sentences equivalent to murder.
With typical income of about $1200 a year there, you could pay 2000 people to hand out information for a year for a few million.
“I suspect that their real concern is to stop people getting here full stop,”
Yeah……………………some would call it having an orderly immigration program.
Is there something inherently wrong with that ?
HI, TB Queensland, who said, “…no party politics – just independent members”
The closest we ever came to that was at the beginning of Federation – no clear-cut party-loyalty, and the system just didn’t work very well – temporary coalitions would form and dissolve and it seemed to generate more confusion than anything else, like a hundred tiny little parties all jockeying for position.
As for getting “competent” pollies, ultimately that’s our – the voters – job, isn’t it? The moment you use some “indepenent” body to choose a competent pollie you’ll get a parliament made up of public servants who pass Senator Conroy’s Public Interest test. Then it really would be a one party state.
“some would call it having an orderly immigration program.
Is there something inherently wrong with that ?”
yes, “reality.”
Just clikked your name, Victor — you more of a cynic than I am!
LOL! At the Clivey cartoons … he looks a bit like Barry Humphries too!
they should have the good grace to acknowledge their volte-face.
……….
At least Labor, for all its shortcomings, and flip-flopping, …
😯
Fine Tom R, I don’t even think I’ve noticed you defending the actual volte-face by the government. You simply appear to be keen to defend the right of people to do an about face based on “nuance” (ie the vibe).
Comprehension deficient yomm again
nuance is not ‘the vibe’. It is the details, the facts! The ‘vibe’ does not care about facts.
Neither, it appears, do you.
So are you endorsing the latest ALP policy, or do you agree with people like Julian Burnisde?
If a “nuance” allows people to go from vigorously opposing off shore processing, to supporting offshore processing, then that probably says quite a lot about their original level of commitment.
Gillard does not know what she is doing. The reason you can tell is that she has formed a committee. Generally people who form committees do so because they have no idea what to do and also they can spread the blame if the committees findings are followed and they do not work.
Thank goodness Campbell Newman did not go to that useless talkfest organised by Gillard in Brisbane. What a waste of time that would have been.
Shorter Julian Burnside……”Fuck the Africans”
Yep. No more Sudanese refugees.
It would be better if “the Left” just admitted they have no idea what they are doing and furthermore everything they do just makes things worse.
The only thing wrong with Howards Pacific Solution is that we did not take enough refugees.
Thank goodness Campbell Newman did not go to that useless talkfest organised by Gillard in Brisbane. What a waste of time that would have been.
I agree, sreb, he’s a fucking waste of space anywhere but especially in Queensand … 🙂
The only thing wrong with Howards Pacific Solution is that we did not take enough refugees.
Expeshuly White Russians who have been purslecuted for cenchrees …
TB
Do you have anything useful to say?? Why is it that “The Left” uses personal abuse when they have nothing of value to say??
“Do you have anything useful to say??
Oh the irony.
Dear Noddy, re: Your Comment
Do you have anything useful to say??
erm, … Noddy, I’m not actually “The Left” … (I tend to wobble a bit)
… I think you’ll find that Teh Left is that, Toillettemachinegrindershittypumpnewspaper, fellow from South Australia …
Merry Christmas, BTW … 🙂 Me too!
I’m not ‘The’ anything.
Not ‘The Left’ at all in any rigid sense…& especially not ‘The Right’…fuck that! I’d rather be boiled in bodily functions than self identify as ‘The Right’.
😯
Malcolm Turnbull has said some things worth reading. I usually find myself in agreement with most things Turnbull says so I find it strange that a lot of Conservatives say he is in the wrong party. However when so many people from “The Left” say they like Turnbull, this causes me to think that he should be regarded with suspicion.
http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/speech-to-parliament-the-asylum-seeker-impasse/
“Well, we had an experiment. Australia’s domestic policies were changed and the arrivals increased and increased and increased. As a consequence, given the nature of the vessels that these desperate people embark upon, the nature of the seas and, all too often, the inexperience of the captains, the deaths are increasing as well. And so we have come full circle and we are back here seeking to find a way to stop the people-smuggling trade.
The government wants the opposition to agree to the Malaysian solution. It states in its defence the testimony of Andrew Metcalfe, the head of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, a very experienced man, no doubt. He says that the Malaysian solution will be effective. He recognises there are problems with it but he says it will be effective. Our objection to it is not whether it will be effective or not – because only time would tell, were it to be implemented – but because it fails to reach the right balance of protecting human rights. It abandons any human rights protection, the human rights protection contained in the convention.”
I don’t know why people keep saying left and right in Australian politics. If they think the ‘left’ is todays Labor they are just mouthing the word without thought IMO. There is no ‘left’ in Australian politics. All the parties are right wing. The Greens are in the centre, Labor is centre-right [heading further toward the far right with each new policy] and the coalition is off-the-scale extremist-nutter right.
The way the majors and the media shriek about the Greens, you’d think that we are all one step away from communist rule! Crazy stuff.
‘…one step away from communist rule! Crazy stuff.’
Glad you raised this Kitty, we need to discuss it further. For a start we are in the 21st century, a modern day communist (as in China) is not the same character as someone who went on a long march.
The Oz greens are communist sympathisers, but the great majority are unaware of this because they have never studied history.
The dictatorship of the proletariat is no longer fashionable, yet the use of mass propaganda in the digital age has been most impressive. Getting the scientists, media and politicians to agree on a formula was never going to be easy, as they don’t see themselves as communists.
So enlightened self interest by scientists and politicians worked a charm, while the watch dog roll of the media was junked in favour of compliance…because the newsrooms had been whittled away and there were no investigative journalists. Rehashing the press releases became standard practice.
Without a shadow of doubt… world guvmint was just around the corner, if only the weather hadn’t changed.
Of course this fkn useless tax will be an embarrassing irritant for some time and princess julia (a closet watermelon) has basically destroyed Labor… political historians will wax lyrical on ‘the great delusion’.
According to wikipedia: “The Pacific Solution goal was reducing the number of irregular entrants arriving in Australian waters by boat. Arrivals dropped from a total of 5516 people in 2001 to only 1 arrival in all of 2002 after implementation of the policy.”
I’m with you AO (on the comment rather than on your political orientation).
The ALP isn’t even progressive these days, they show no leadership on basic social issues, they’re unwilling to press on points of principle. They’ve certainly lost their way.
On the other hand the Liberals are about where they’ve been for the length of my memory.
“the Liberals are about where they’ve been for the length of my memory”
That’s it, Tom – agree entirely – Libs have consistency, solidity – know about the importance of stable long-lasting foundations. We’re living with the flukey, irrational consequences of having turfed John Howard well before his use-by date was up.
Actually, I didn’t say that as a compliment to them.
I know, but in trying to bag them you identified one of their strengths – particularly in comparison to the flakey, wind-sniffing ALP
We’re living with the flukey, irrational consequences of having turfed John Howard well before his use-by date was up.
😆
some of us couldn’t wait for the dark days of howard’s reign of terror to end, it couldn’t come quickly enough. Sick of the nasty politics of hatred and division. Phoney tony can’t wait to take us all back to the ugly side of humanity. Because institutions and foundations of power are old and historic doesn’t make them relevant to a modern society or even equitable, just more of the same old entrenched bias and protection for privilege.
Oh I reckon once Labor brings in it’s much-desired State-control of the media, we’ll see some days to make Howard’s look positively radiant.
‘just more of the same old entrenched bias’
More irony from a barracker.
…. know about the importance of stable long-lasting foundations I know … , but in trying to bag them you identified one of their strengths – particularly in comparison to the flakey, wind-sniffing ALP
Yep, trading water will always get you to the island on the horizon … and a few secret societies will just make the water a bit warmer to swim in … let them other Fuckwits™ get eaten by (us) sharks … and here’s me thinking “solidarity” referred to the “right” side of politics …
Sick of the nasty politics of hatred and division.
… and continueing to this day in the capable hands of the Howard Protegy …
Where’s Jason Bourne when you need him … another “progressive” in the side of True Western Democracy! 😆
WOW! Go Clivey!
http://www.news.com.au/national/let-asylum-seekers-fly-in-palmer/story-e6frfkvr-1226412973378
Wobber Barrons think big, get rid of red tape and go directly to the chase. Wonder what they’ll say about this up the road?
Yeah, egg, but this Robber Baron, is no different, he wants to run the whole show HIS way, anyway he wants …
… more money than they need twists people’s minds … they then want more of it at anybody’s expense other than thier own … and of course more money than most people makes you much smarter than anyone else … ask any Robber Baron or Wannabe …
If Gina got three seats on the board at Fairfax she would demand journalists and editors construct a framework for debate on a whole range of issues.
This should turn Fairfax around, so I’m cheering her on.
Clivey is a radical, but why am I not offended by his wild suggestions?
——————-
Victor’s earlier comment that ‘the only alternative is a one-party state’ is worth more discussion. Are we talking about the Chinese or German model?
‘he wants to run the whole show HIS way, anyway he wants …’
Yep, but he’s restrained by the political process…he was the one swearing at Tabit the other day and it got him nowhere.
Yep, but he’s restrained by the political process
So were Hitler and Stalin … to start with … 🙂
That’s quite an innovative idea from big Clive…
It might just save Qantas at the same time – a win win! 🙂
‘So were Hitler and Stalin … to start with’
Ha ha…we have a democracy that works. Those other characters created one party states (in the middle of last century) based on some dubious propositions.
Clive doesn’t have the bottle to be a dictator.
Ha ha…we have a democracy that works So did Germany in 1933 … but they too had a weak Constitution (‘scuse the pun) … 😉
Hmmm…alright, anything’s possible, but Clivey is not a charismatic personality and will not rouse the masses.
Ha ha…we have a democracy that works. Those other characters created one party states (in the middle of last century) based on some dubious propositions.
A two party duopoly is better? I think not. Our democracy doesn’t work, party allegience destroys democracy.
allegience = allegiance perhaps?
Arrivals dropped from a total of 5516 people in 2001 to only 1 arrival in all of 2002 after implementation of the policy.”
So what? Numbers only matter if you think australia should not accept ‘boat’ people at all. The racists are obsessed with boat arrivals, we’re a big country and an affluent one, there is no reason to fear those seeking asylum. I can almost hear the involuntary release of bowel contents from here! Get a grip on your sphincter! it is likely that your life will not be affected one bit. The Coalition have trained their pavlovian dogs well.
More irony from a barracker.
How so? barracker for what? I’m not terribly interested in your need to label, you can throw out barracker, watermelon and commie as much as you like, but I don’t accept any of it. You are like the old punch drunk boxer, re-living all the big fights of the past, keep on jabbing.
Take a good long look in the mirror and there you’ll see a barracker and ideologue, as much as you pretend otherwise.
Libs have consistency, solidity – know about the importance of stable long-lasting foundations.
Yeah, snot nose snobbery and the old boy, old school tie networks in all their glory!
If a “nuance” allows people to go from vigorously opposing off shore processing, to supporting offshore processing, then that probably says quite a lot about their original level of commitment.
I’ve always opposed off shore processing, can’t see any reason why checks and medicals need to be an off shore operation and people who have done no crime except ask for some compassion, humanity and acceptance should be locked up in our own version of guantanamo until they go mad.
Time trials are finished, I’m off to bed now, will dream of a handsome and smiling Cancellara!
“Get a grip on your sphincter! it is likely that your life will not be affected one bit. The Coalition have trained their pavlovian dogs well.”
Hear hear!!!
“I’m not terribly interested in your need to label, you can throw out barracker, watermelon and commie as much as you like, but I don’t accept any of it. You are like the old punch drunk boxer, re-living all the big fights of the past, keep on jabbing.”
Chuckle. So true…. 🙂
‘Take a good long look in the mirror and there you’ll see a barracker and ideologue, as much as you pretend otherwise.’
I admit to being a left wing barracker all my life, but now I’m free, free at last.
AO has a nice way with words. Pity she’s so unreasonable.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/prime-minister-julia-gillard-urged-to-restore-temporary-protection-visas/story-e6freon6-1226413270735
I’m not sure this is a problem that deserves to be fixed with such shocking harsh punishment (sending asylum seekers to Malaysia or Nauru), I think TPVs are a better starting point.
Off shore processing is just too severe, I think it is cruel to people.
Maybe others are starting to come to a similar conclusion.
“The racists are obsessed with boat arrivals”
No. We have a quota system. Unless we are willing to take all 20 million refugees we will always have a quota system. Every person who comes by boat means one less person we can take from Sudan for example.
“The racists are obsessed with boat arrivals”
No. We have a quota system.
Forgive him for he knows not what he writes? No denial of being a racist …. but offers a “reason” for it … 😯
“No denial of being a racist”
I was trying to make the point that you are not necessarily racist is you do not agree with boat arrivals. It is also what people do who have lost an argument. They usually call you a Nazi or a racist.
But you have reinforced my opinion of you TB. Nothing useful to say except smearing other human beings.
…Every person who comes by boat means one less person we can take from Sudan for example…
So they say, the big lie to make it sound reasonable, but it is lipstick on a pig. We know they don’t want any boat arrivals, dead or alive. They want to hand-pick and choose. Our own modern white australia policy, the orderly immigration program – “WE WILL DECIDE WHO COMES HERE” – trouble is desperate people don’t have the luxury of being orderly, dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s that would please australia’s security nitpickers and the coalition/community racists who don’t want anyone too ‘different’ here at all. They want preferably white people, who live a ‘western’ lifestyle, if not white, then they should be christian and ‘western’ pleasing.
We have room enough for all, what is lacking is the human compassion, we are still demonising these people, making every excuse for why they don’t qualify and deserve a helping hand “they pass through other countries, they have money to pay people smugglers, they don’t have papers, they are not genuine, they are queue jumpers”. We look for every reason as to why we should not accept them, trying to justify the racism and xenophobia.
I agree with julian burnside:
…”I suspect that their real concern is to stop people getting here full stop,” he said.
“They say the problem is that people die at sea trying to get to safety in Australia.
“If that’s really the problem then I would’ve thought the obvious solution to it is to stop getting people on boats and the only way to do that … is for Australia to set up a fair dinkum, fair processing system in Indonesia with the co-operation of the Indonesian government.”…
…”If they’re serious about saving lives they stop people getting on the boats in the first place,” he said.
Mr Burnside said Australians seemed to be unable to accept the premise of the UN Refugee Convention which states that countries have some obligation to offer protection to people facing persecution and violence…
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/asylum-seeker-impasse-pathetic-qcs-plan-to-stop-the-boats-20120629-216da.html#ixzz1zLvPUgue
LABOR MPs are urging Prime Minister Julia Gillard to consider the reintroduction of temporary protection visas or even scrap the Malaysian solution if it means striking a compromise to deter boat people.
If that happens then the Labor conversion to Coalition should be complete.
Disgusting that all australians want to do about ‘boat people’ is deter them from coming. We had Kelty’s AFP over in Indonesia scuttling and sabotaging boats during the Howard years [that’s why the arrivals were down, they illegally paid people to sink boats and put lives at risk before they even got here]. Now all we can come up with is punish and deter, pretty brutal humanitarian effort. Can’t call ourselves a generous and fair minded nation anymore.
I admit to being a left wing barracker all my life, but now I’m free, free at last.
Don’t think so, haven’t heard you spouting anything remotely ‘left wing’ only right wing propaganda, misrepresentation and outright lies in defence of every right wing institution/agenda/ideology.
But you have reinforced my opinion of you TB. Nothing useful to say except smearing other human beings.
My opinion of you as been completed for some time, Noddy, it concluded when you decided to call me a liar, a few weeks ago, over what was obviously a typo on my part … speaking of smearing others … 🙄
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KL, I had a rather heated “discussion” with my mate from up the back on Friday …. (a “classical” ex-bank IT manager, Liberal, BTW) … who simply said, “they shouldn’t come by boat” … so, planes are OK … yep, the shouldn’t come by boat, that’s illegal … but, but, the ones who stay after their visa runs a out are actually illegal … yes but they came by plane not boat, and had paperwork … but the one’s on the boats aren’t illegal, they are refugees and asylum seekers … how do we know that? …
… round and round in fkn circles it went … it was like talking to you know who … that bloody Liberal Spin Machine is good, really good … I don’t know how they do it but they do …
(a few “voters” now starting to get the idea that Noddy Newman may not be the “saviour” they thought he might be … LOL! Ben there done that!)
I admit to being a left wing barracker all my life, but now I’m free, free at last.
Don’t think so, haven’t heard you spouting anything remotely ‘left wing’
O, how we giggled, egg … 😆
Did you know ToM, is a born again Liberal after walking on the darkside … and of course, Wally, has always walked with Lucifer … ever since he became a CPA! 🙂
‘Don’t think so’
What? Haven’t you heard of the hip pocket nerve? I’ll vote for the party which is in my best interests, its just happens to be the Coalition this time round.
Barrackers will even vote for losers and continue to support the insupportable because of their faith…the cafe is full of them. Lamentable and pathetic.
‘yes but they came by plane not boat, and had paperwork …’
Yes indeed, forged papers, I’ve met quite a few in my time. They eventually get discovered and sent back, only to return with new forged papers six months later.
“trouble is desperate people don’t have the luxury of being orderly”
But boat people are not longer desperate. They have safe haven in Indonesia. Furthermore they have a reasonable amount of money. They could survive safely in Indonesia for years. Boat people while they may be refugees have changed from finding a safe haven which they have found to country shoping.
And since we have a quota system boat people will always be taking the place of another refugee with no money to pay a smuggler.
… yes but they came by plane not boat, and had paperwork … but the one’s on the boats aren’t illegal, they are refugees and asylum seekers … how do we know that? …
I know TB, of course after you’ve been locked up as a political prisoner, yourself and family victimised, bashed, abused, threatened and targeted by authorities, they happily hand over your immigration papers [that’s if you want them to know where you can be found!].
All countries and authorities have these things at the ready don’t they, even in the deserts, mountains and villages of the poorest and war torn?
Iggorance is bliss, KL … I think I may ahve mentioned my own parents went through a year of interviews and checks to emigrate from the UK in1960!
” Did you know ToM, is a born again Liberal…”
Them there’s fightin’ words TB! I remain “strongly disaffected contemporary ALP” – it’s a huge difference!
Hear hear Tom!
…Boat people while they may be refugees have changed from finding a safe haven which they have found to country shoping…
…And since we have a quota system boat people will always be taking the place of another refugee with no money to pay a smuggler….
Indonesia should bear the brunt of a world wide problem? How can we demand international co-operation on other issues when we shirk our own responsibility when it counts?
Do you think that Indonesia has the economic means to accomodate all of these people, leaving australia free to hand pick and choose their desired immigrants? Why should it be so one-sided? One country gets no choice while australia should carefully hand-select? How do you know the value of the money that paid for the boat passage? If a family pools together to sell everything they possess to get their members to safety they should be judged as wealthy and undeserving, only poor people without means are genuine? There is no means test for asylum.
Why do you expect the responsibility to be borne by another country, one that is not as well off as ours, don’t we have an obligation too?
The quota system is a basically biased and unfair system, it is designed to exclude boat arrivals, the ones who are very likely to be true asylum seekers while the plane arrivals are the true illegals [visa overstayers] and ‘economic’ refugees.
If the times and means of seeking asylum have changed then it is time to change our system so that it can encompass all refugees including boat people so that racist australians cannot exclude, judge and condemn based on their mode of arrival to our shores.
… round and round in fkn circles it went … it was like talking to you know who … that bloody Liberal Spin Machine is good, really good … I don’t know how they do it but they do …
The liberal spin machine works to endorse the cognitive bias, inconsistency and hypocrisy of the “conservative mind”.
It’s OK to be bigoted, prejudiced, racist, greedy and selfish. They make their own “reality” and it doesn’t need facts, truths or even rational thinking, it is based on ‘gut feeling” apparently or “if you believe it, then it must be true” [you might be the only one in the world but that’s OK, it’s all valid, there is no responsibilty to point out that you might be wrong].
I see it as a version of the religious mind, faith based thinking.
‘I see it as a version of the religious mind, faith based thinking.’
Like taxing a benign trace gas to stop sea level rising?
Personally, I’m not bothered by the number of people arriving here by boat or aircraft. There seems to be plenty of room.
I’m also not sure we’re “luring people to their death”, if a high chance of death at sea is not a deterrent, I’m not sure the “Malaysian Solution” is either.
“If the times and means of seeking asylum have changed then it is time to change our system so that it can encompass all refugees including boat people so that racist australians cannot exclude, judge and condemn based on their mode of arrival to our shores.”
Racist Australians?? Next time you will be saying Australians are Nazi’s as well. What has race got to do with it??? If you are saying that White Australia does not like brown skinned people this does not make sense. All of the refugees we take come from browned skinned countries. I guess you are trying to say Islamic people rather than people who do not have white skin.
But Islam is a religion not a race. I find it an extremist comment to say that race has some reason to do why some people are against refugees who come by boat.
A former refugee turned people smuggler, gives a solution to the problem [it’s the same solution that julian burnside offered], but will anyone in politics listen or act?
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/a-way-to-stop-the-boats-20120630-219gh.html
If you are saying that White Australia does not like brown skinned people this does not make sense.
Of course not, just ask any Aboriginal, they are held in the highest of esteem!
Did you happen to catch the Q&A episode [Lenny Henry & Prof Brian Smith were guests] where they discussed Australia being decades behind the US and UK in regard to racism. Outright racist behaviour and attitudes are tolerated in this country by the general community. In the other two countries, the population [black and white], would vigorously speak out in condemnation of anyone displaying publicly racist attitudes, it is not tolerated at all.
I have never heard passing strangers making such blatantly racist comments as I have since John Howard held office. He, and his party of racists made it OK for the general public to express hatred, bigotry, racism and sexism. Howard publicly defended [on TV & radio] the people involved in the ‘shire and big day out racist behaviours when he should have been condemning them, saying it was not OK, not to be tolerated.
I guess you are trying to say Islamic people rather than people who do not have white skin.
No, you guess wrong, that’s what you are saying.
…No one calls Qantas bosses ‘people smugglers’, but they also take money to bring asylum seekers here by plane…
Click to access rac-general-fact-sheet-march20111.pdf
Like taxing a benign trace gas to stop sea level rising?
jab, jab, jab
No, that would come into the realm of scientific endeavour, you know the same scientists that drove the age of industrialisation and continue to produce technological innovations today. The scientists that the fossil fuel industry and its proponents [the angry old white men] now say they have no faith in ‘cos they talk crap and can’t be trusted to find their own arses! 😆
“Did you happen to catch the Q&A episode [Lenny Henry & Prof Brian Smith were guests]”
Yes, Lenny was adamant the guy who heard the racist remarks should have violently assaulted the offenders. Really good advice, that.
Race-based chatter will not go away while Race remains such a searingly red-hot identity marker in our society. While we so actively promote racial self-consciousness, there will always be an unwashed reaction coming back the other way. And the louder you scream RACISTS RACISTS EVERYWHERE, the more you’ll find.
‘the angry old white men’
That’s broad brush, kitty.
Did you know that 90% of Egyptian women are circumsised (sic) so that they can’t enjoy a normal sex life.
I’m racist…all Egyptians must be banned from coming here unless they stop the practice.
Gene Roddenberry was way ahead in the racism race … one of the basic foundations of Star Trek was a recognition that all Earth races and those “beyond” were to be treated equally and with respect … The Prime Directive was another … and that was in the 1960’s and enhanced in the later series’ scripts eg Next Generation and Voyager … clever man …
They used mobile phones and iPads too … 🙂
“I guess you are trying to say Islamic people rather than people who do not have white skin.
No, you guess wrong, that’s what you are saying.”
Well what am I supposed to think? You keep saying that people who do not want asylum seekers to come here by boat are racist. Are the refugees we take from camps overseas white anglo-saxons?? You are not making sense.
“……Wally, has always walked with Lucifer … ever since he became a CPA!….”
Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark…………!
I see TB was trying to pick a few fights over the weekend
Friggin’ CPA
I’m a CA not a useless bloody CPA
“…………….my own parents went through a year of interviews and checks to emigrate from the UK in1960!”
Which just goes to show that despite our best efforts we have had a problem with undesirables getting into this joint for many many years.
🙂
That’s broad brush, kitty.
Did it make you…bristle? 😉
Did you know that 90% of Egyptian women are circumsised (sic) so that they can’t enjoy a normal sex life.
I’m racist…all Egyptians must be banned from coming here unless they stop the practice.
FGM is already illegal here. In the interest of consistency you would need to ban all men, jews and other races/cultures that practice male circumcision – where would Aboriginals and other aussies go – jail?
I’m a CA not a useless bloody CPA
There’s a difference? 😯 😆
Which just goes to show that despite our best efforts we have had a problem with undesirables getting into this joint for many many years.
… your just worried ’cause we make youse shinay arses look like bludgers …
CPA’s avoid tax.
CA’s evade tax.
LOL! James! 🙂