Janet Collins
Billy MBack to the Future on Australian Immigration Policy
July 30th 2008 14:25
It is not too often that I get anywhere near excited when I hear a government announcement, even though my interest in politics is pretty high. I did feel pretty good though when our Immigration Minister announced his government’s intention to relax the harsh immigration laws that have seen refugees incarcerated for excessively long times over the past decade and a half.
It also restores my faith in the ability for governments and society to revert back to respecting those who seek asylum as human beings rather than some form of threat or terrorist or worse.
Mandatory detention dates back to the Keating Government. I was always ashamed of this draconian policy. It was the Tampa episode involving the Howard Government in the lead up to the 2001 election however that really made me ashamed to be Australian.
I am sure there were many other Australians who felt the same as I did but the timing of the incident and how the government addressed the issue exposed more about Australia than I really wanted to believe. Popular sentiment favoured mandatory detention. That government policy on the treatment of refugees as government policy was in breach of the United Nations Refugee Convention did not seem to be a concern.
For those who were too young to remember the episode and for those who would like to be reminded of it, the Tampa episode relates to the rescuing of 433 refugees from a sinking vessel by a Norwegian freighter, the M.V. Tampa. Their vessel began sinking while heading for Australia. The captain of the vessel then proceeded to take the refugees to Australia.
This would have been the course any professional sea captain would have taken. The Australian Government then ordered the captain to stop and released SAS soldiers to board the M.V. Tampa. I think all Australians will remember our former Prime Minister’s public words which he repeated time and again “We will decide who comes to this country”.
Political action taken at the time is something you would more likely see in a blockbuster political thriller. Not just our government and the refugees were involved here. The players drawn into the mess were the United Nations, the Norwegian government, the SAS, the Australian Federal Police and the Immigration Department.
This is the episode in brief. Anyone wanting to read more about it can find an excellent account in the award winning book Dark Victory by two journalists Marion Wilkinson and David Marr. It is an incredible report that has been well researched and exceptionally written.
That the Government did all this in such a blaze of publicity is one thing. When the Labor Opposition held back from opposing it is another. I was bewildered at how Australia had become such a harsh society. Both were now very willing to risk Australia’s reputation for the sake of votes at the upcoming election. Of course, the Howard Government went on to win the 2001 election.
So yesterday’s announcement can reveal one of two things - either the government is being rather brave in deciding to dismiss public opinion and abandon the whole process of incarceration or that public opinion has turned around. In some way, I hope it is the latter.
I say “hear hear” to the Australian Government’s decision to overturn mandatory detention policy. Of course there will be many exceptions and many vague areas to be rectified but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Thanks to this new vision, I can now hold my Australian head high.
It also restores my faith in the ability for governments and society to revert back to respecting those who seek asylum as human beings rather than some form of threat or terrorist or worse.
Mandatory detention dates back to the Keating Government. I was always ashamed of this draconian policy. It was the Tampa episode involving the Howard Government in the lead up to the 2001 election however that really made me ashamed to be Australian.
I am sure there were many other Australians who felt the same as I did but the timing of the incident and how the government addressed the issue exposed more about Australia than I really wanted to believe. Popular sentiment favoured mandatory detention. That government policy on the treatment of refugees as government policy was in breach of the United Nations Refugee Convention did not seem to be a concern.
For those who were too young to remember the episode and for those who would like to be reminded of it, the Tampa episode relates to the rescuing of 433 refugees from a sinking vessel by a Norwegian freighter, the M.V. Tampa. Their vessel began sinking while heading for Australia. The captain of the vessel then proceeded to take the refugees to Australia.
This would have been the course any professional sea captain would have taken. The Australian Government then ordered the captain to stop and released SAS soldiers to board the M.V. Tampa. I think all Australians will remember our former Prime Minister’s public words which he repeated time and again “We will decide who comes to this country”.
Political action taken at the time is something you would more likely see in a blockbuster political thriller. Not just our government and the refugees were involved here. The players drawn into the mess were the United Nations, the Norwegian government, the SAS, the Australian Federal Police and the Immigration Department.
This is the episode in brief. Anyone wanting to read more about it can find an excellent account in the award winning book Dark Victory by two journalists Marion Wilkinson and David Marr. It is an incredible report that has been well researched and exceptionally written.
That the Government did all this in such a blaze of publicity is one thing. When the Labor Opposition held back from opposing it is another. I was bewildered at how Australia had become such a harsh society. Both were now very willing to risk Australia’s reputation for the sake of votes at the upcoming election. Of course, the Howard Government went on to win the 2001 election.
So yesterday’s announcement can reveal one of two things - either the government is being rather brave in deciding to dismiss public opinion and abandon the whole process of incarceration or that public opinion has turned around. In some way, I hope it is the latter.
I say “hear hear” to the Australian Government’s decision to overturn mandatory detention policy. Of course there will be many exceptions and many vague areas to be rectified but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Thanks to this new vision, I can now hold my Australian head high.
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Comment by Chris Champion
moneywhither
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
NewlyOld
The Blog of Lists
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I am glad to see Rudd's government taking the steps towards showing me that my hope was not misplaced. I know this is just one tiny step, but it is a step in the right direction.
Comment by colocountry
Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I hope our views are now in the majority. It is good to see a little social justice creeing back into government policy. I hope it also works its way into other areas.
And Col - the "chldren overboard" incident was shortly after Tampa - same election. Dark Victory covers this also. It's a damn good read.
Janet