It is widely reported today in the PNG local media, that Australia & PNG have reached an agreement that PNG will now receive 'boat people' trying to make it to Australia to claim refugee status. These people will not simply be held in PNG to be processed, but will be patriated in PNG vs Australia.
The principles as described to me tonight by an Ausaid worker, are that anyone found to be a non-legitimate refugee claimant will be sent home. Any genuine refugees will be housed & patriated to PNG vs Australia.
The idea being, that since no one really wants to come to PNG, the boats will stop coming to Australia.
The reality being for me, that people will come to PNG, and then try to hop another boat to Australia. And while they're at it, will suck valuable resources that should either be spent domestically, or spent to support the ongoing Aid program to PNG, just to 'defend' Australia from accepting more immigration. This from a country built on immigrants.
To me, it makes no sense, and positions Australia poorly, and also has major economic & social impacts for PNG - a country heavily financially supported & influenced by Australian politics since 'independence' in 1975.
The majority (vast majority) of Australians I speak to here in PNG are wildly in support of the initiative, but no one has given me any reason that doesn't smack of xenophobia. That said - I'm not an ultra-liberal. However, I'm still disgusted & bewildered by this latest deal.
The principles as described to me tonight by an Ausaid worker, are that anyone found to be a non-legitimate refugee claimant will be sent home. Any genuine refugees will be housed & patriated to PNG vs Australia.
The idea being, that since no one really wants to come to PNG, the boats will stop coming to Australia.
The reality being for me, that people will come to PNG, and then try to hop another boat to Australia. And while they're at it, will suck valuable resources that should either be spent domestically, or spent to support the ongoing Aid program to PNG, just to 'defend' Australia from accepting more immigration. This from a country built on immigrants.
To me, it makes no sense, and positions Australia poorly, and also has major economic & social impacts for PNG - a country heavily financially supported & influenced by Australian politics since 'independence' in 1975.
The majority (vast majority) of Australians I speak to here in PNG are wildly in support of the initiative, but no one has given me any reason that doesn't smack of xenophobia. That said - I'm not an ultra-liberal. However, I'm still disgusted & bewildered by this latest deal.
via JREF Forum http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=262537&goto=newpost
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