Houston: ‘we’ no longer have a problem; refugees do
Posted by John, August 13th, 2012 - under Angus Houston, Asylum seekers, Houston, Refugees, Resistance.
It was a brilliant ploy by Gillard. Appoint a committee of ‘experts’ whom you knew would always recommend the vile and inhumane offshore processing of refugees.
If they recommended Malaysia then all the better. If they recommended Nauru then that would give Labor the cover to back down.
The ‘experts’ recommended dumping refugees on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. They didn’t rule out Malaysia; they just said it needed more work.
Essentially what the trio of rich white males in the Houston Report has served up is the Opposition’s deterrence policy, with a few sops thrown in about increasing the humanitarian intake a little. It is basically a policy of punishing the refugees. It strips asylum seekers of the meagre rights they currently have.
This is Howard’s Pacific Solution made worse. It is not Pacific Solution Lite but Pacific Solution Dark.
There will be no time limit on how long asylum seekers can be kept in Nauru or Manus Island. This is to ensure they will spend longer there than they would have in Indonesia or Malaysia. Given that some refugees rot their lives away in Malaysia, asylum seekers could be held indefinitely in Australia’s concentration camps on Nauru or Manus Island.
Those coming by boat will also lose family re-union rights.
Labor, Left and Right, is joyfully and joyously implementing a vile policy worse than anything Howard dared introduce.
That assumes the boats get into and remain in Australian waters.
The Houston Report disgracefully but not unsurprisingly recommended turning back the boats where that is legally and physically possible. It isn’t yet, so Houston wants the legal and other ‘niceties’ fixed to ensure it can be done.
Nauru, Manus Island and turning back the boats are Coalition policy. What Houston has done is transform them into Labor Government policy and action. The ALP will be secretly pleased.
Gillard Labor will rush through legislation this week to adopt all 22 of Houston’s recommendations.
At the heart of the report is the false idea that harsh action at our end will stop the boats. As they keep on coming the pressure and now the response has been and is to get harsher. It hasn’t ‘worked’.
People fleeing war, civil war, dispossession, rape and the like are desperate. A journey of a few days across the sea to a better life eventually, even if it puts their lives at risk or means they’ll spend time in Nauru before coming to Australia, is better in their eyes than being killed.
Of course indefinite detention is a factory for mental illness so once here many of them try to kill themselves to escape a life of indefinite imprisonment for no crime.
Some of the refugees come from Afghanistan. Often they are Hazaras, a persecuted minority under the Karzai government that Western troops, including Australian soldiers, have imposed on the people of Afghanistan.
As leader of Australia’s defence force, Angus Houston was one of the key architects and implementers of this invasion strategy. Withdrawing Western troops from Afghanistan would help stop one of the reasons for refugees fleeing from there to Australia.
Instead of recommending ending Western invasions, Houston recommended we attack the very people we force to flee their homes. This from the former head of Defence. What a surprise.
Given that both the Government and the Opposition are in favour of brutalising asylum seekers, the Committee was never going to recommend a sensible caring approach to dealing with refugees.
If we really want to save lives at sea, Australia could process all of the asylum seekers in Indonesia, about 5000 and the 100,000 in the hell holes of Malaysia quickly for resettlement here.
If we can’t process them there, then we could process them here – not by forcing them to flee in rickety rotten boats to Australia but by sending Australian ships and planes to bring them here for processing.
Of course neither side will do that. They are leaders in racism but followers too. Their policies are driven by the desire to appeal to and deepen the crimson thread of racism that runs through sections of the working class, a crimson thread the ruling elite use cynically to divert attention away from the real problem – capitalism.
For some in an alienated population in an alienated society, attacking others restores a seeming sense of their own humanity. It is a false god but idolatry is useful tool in the exploitation fo workers for the Gillards and Abbotts, the Rineharts and Palmers, the Gail Kellys and Grant O’Briens of the world, even if they or some of them personally find the policy obnoxious.
Far better that we worship false gods than attack the bosses and their prostration at the altar of profit.
Only the Greens will oppose this legislation. However they will not mobilise their membership and millions of decent working Australians in support of refugees.
Let me give an example of what can be done by demonstrations and agitation. Same sex marriage is on the agenda, and is in touching distance of victory, because of the actions of a few hundred activists in mobilising support for the issue across Australia; in calling demonstrations in which thousands turn out.
The Greens are the only ones with the political credibility to be able to mobilise hundreds of thousands in favour of refugees and to save those who will now risk their lives in coming to Australia. If they are successful in getting here they will be black-birded to Nauru and Manus Island.
There should be no more mister nice guy from us in our defence of refugees. Make Australia ungovernable to defend asylum seekers.
To the Greens, for humanity’s sake, mobilise us to save refugees. Do it now. We are ready.
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Comments
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 12:09 am
I am glad now maybe the welfare for lifers will stop coming.
Every time a boat arrives it costs the Australian taxpayers, the money has to come from somewhere so eventually taxes will have to go up or services cut in other areas.
Genuine refugees don’t bypass other countries they are glad to get away from whatever, we are getting mostly country shoppers.
Comment from Martin Barr-David
Time August 14, 2012 at 3:28 am
Time to shut down federal parliament to stop legislation by cutting of off the services and utilities to make abort the the vote.
Comment from Martin Barr-David
Time August 14, 2012 at 3:30 am
Make the politician face the same conditions as the asylum seekers.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 7:31 am
All bullshit Philip. Must be fun being fed lies by politicians and believing them. Welfare for lifers! Refugees make a positive contribution to Australian society. The Vietnamese certainly did. Refugees in the community once they gain skills and language proficiency if they do not already have them are very employable. We are a rich country. Taxing the rich could easily provide for much better public health, education, transport, action to address climate change and a few thousand refugees.
Comment from Chek
Time August 14, 2012 at 10:20 am
Refugees are a problem, for us, and for many nations in the West. They will always do what we prefer they do not. Them and us live in different worlds. The challenge for us is which is the least cruel and least inhumane policy we can devise, given the toxins which have built up in our political culture.
The Houston solution seems plausibly close. Taking away the advantage that boat people who got here have had over those who stayed in refugee camps elsewhere should have an effect on the people smuggling trade. It is doubly cruel to those who risked drowning and get here. But what is the alternative? In a bipartisan, de-toxed political culture, we might fly everyone in camps in Malaysia and Indonesia for processing here, as a trial. Apart from the burden of processing so many all of a sudden, amongst whom there will be a portion of undesirables of one sort or another that societies beset by wars for decades are wont to produce, the trial might well be followed by the swelling of refugees in these overseas camps. Survival is our primeval instinct. If there is hope in Oz, there are so many who would cross the moat, by hook or by crook.
The Houston solution is hard headed, long term focused for a regional approach to the problem, and not without a heart for the end result of the total suffering we can help reduce. It should take us away from the short term ringside barracking, as though the boat people are mere goals to be kicked in a weekend footy match.
Gillard has shown leadership in accepting the total integrated plan in entirety. We can always poke fun at her having to back down, etc, etc, but we do not have to be so crass. Abbott hopefully will show some leadership by not opposing everything that stops him from throwing punches at the government that he tries to paint as illegitimate at first, then incompetent, and latterly so chaotic that we must have an election! The cross for Abbott is that the carbon tax has not turned out to be the disaster that he said it will be, and the mining super profit tax does not seem to have stopped mining investments. Boat people may be the only political goal left in his bunker – to foment the seminal scar in our nation’s psyche – just like the way the Chinese were demonised in election campaigns in the 19th century. One wonders what goes on in his confessionals with Cardinal George Pell.
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 10:42 am
John – report to Gov on refugees who had been here over 5 years put 85% still on welfare after 5 years lot did not want to learn English – if they don’t learn English you ca not employ them if they have an accident and say I could not read the sign your company will be in big trouble.
Now lets look at most boats 95% on the boats are men does that not seem strange to you yet Africa & Jordon etc the majority are women and children.
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 10:49 am
Con’t John Why should the rich have to pay for the refugees? We could also twist that logic a little and say even if there were no refugees your taxes should be raised to help all the homeless and poor Australians (who the Gov has a duty to look after)
Tax the rich is not a problem getting them to pay is the problem remember Allan Bond years ago only paid 1cent on the dollar tax. They are good at reducing there tax below the level of the normal PAYE person.
These refugees are nothing like the Vietnamese these do not want to work and want things for FREE and quick – welfare for lifers.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Here’s what the Refugee Council says:
‘It is true that newly arrived refugees have higher unemployment rates than the community average. This is not unexpected.
‘Amongst the refugee arrivals are people who have been tortured and deeply traumatised. This can interfere with employment. There are also a significant number of entrants whose qualifications are not recognised in Australia and they need time to make adjustments. There is also the issue of learning English. Refugees are entitled to 510 hours of free English language instruction which must be taken in the first 2 years – and it is beneficial that the entrants do this as they are unlikely to do this later.
‘The fact that refugees “come from behind” in the employment stakes highlights the need for specifically targeted intervention programs that recognise issues such as their trauma, their unrecognised qualifications and their lack of English. Targeted programs that do this have shown that they are very successful at placing refugees in the workforce. If we are to bring refugees to Australia (and it is Australia’s decision that we do so) it is important that we recognise their specific needs and address these. If we do this, we will reap the benefits. Most refugees want to work, both to restore their damaged sense of self esteem and to repay what they see as their debt of gratitude to Australia for providing them with protection. ‘
So spend more on refugees to improve services to help them improve their employability. Tax the rich to pay for it.
Next you’ll be arguing from the depths of your racism that they take our jobs. Contradictory of course to the first line. But as the Council says:
‘Because they arrive with nothing they have to purchase household goods, clothing etc, all of which provides jobs for the people who make and sell these commodities.’
Wasn’t Jesus a refugee? How would Australian Christians treat Jesus the refugee today?
Comment from Jack Hartyn
Time August 14, 2012 at 12:46 pm
I agree with Phillip, these present boat people who in the main are Afghanis & Iraqi’s, are usually 100% of the Muslim faith.
Very unfortunately their religious persuasion & background seems to work against them becoming assimilated Australians.
They find it difficult to find work, except in the most menial of occupations, they find it difficult to live amongst the general run of the population, they form ghettos and attempt to bring the regressive culture and conditions of their homeland from which they are supposed to have fled to Australia. In all expected respects they are relatively poor migrants to allow residence in a sophisticated Western society.
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 1:45 pm
John – quote “from the depths of your racism”. Now you start to show your ignorance because someone states the opposite to your view they must be racist. By resorting to the I must be racist you have failed to address the points I made. Further discussion with someone who does that is pointless.
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 1:51 pm
John – Also one who relies on and takes what the “Refugee Council” says as the gospel truth would certainly be naive. That would be like believing everything a politician said, “no carbon tax under my Government”.
The Refugee Council says has an agenda do you think they are going to give the truth all the time, Just as the Government is hiding the real cost of the refugees by having charities look after them.
Comment from Michael Navaratnam
Time August 14, 2012 at 4:07 pm
lol at refugees
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Absolutely Philip. I find it useless having any discussion with racists. You state the opposite view that these people are life time welfare recipients, which is as untrue as that they are less intelligent, driven by a sense of superioty. That is racism. Bye.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 5:08 pm
See Philip, Jack just confirms my view about the racist nature of the debate. Even ruling class warrior Malcolm Fraser agrees the debate is racist.
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Stating from a Government report that 85% of refugees were still on welfare after being here over 5 years is fact. How does that make me racist? Please address the statements or comments presented rather than put your own spin on comments and try to twist comments to your own agenda.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Which government report? And nursing people back to health, giving them English lessons and skills takes time. And money. The government doesn’t provide enough. As for racist comments – ‘welfare for lifers’ comes to mind. Just like Aborigines eh? I suspect if you had to flee to Somalia for your life you’d be on subsistence support for a while too. This is 6000 people. Wow, so much humanity. If they were whites from Zimbabwe or South Africa we’d have a different view.
Comment from Jack Hartyn
Time August 14, 2012 at 6:25 pm
John
You have an unfortunate habit of personally denegrating correspondents who disagree with your particular viewpoint.
I certainly am not racist and resent your description.
I try to speak truthfully as I see it. All statements made by myself are the exact truth and can be verified.
John remove your blinkers!
Comment from ross
Time August 14, 2012 at 8:22 pm
So logically John , do we open our borders to anyone who wants to come here with no ID? The USA has 15 million illegal immigrants mostly from Mexico who continue to drive wages there lower and lower.
How man million refugees can Australia accommodate?
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 8:33 pm
John for you to not even know of this report shows you are looking at and commenting about an issue you know little of what the real cost is, that cost is being hidden by the Government. Now the report commissioned by the Immigration Department of 8500 people accepted under our humanitarian program of that 8500 – 85% were still on welfare after being here for 5 years – of the Iranian adults, just 12% were working that’s 88% on welfare and Just 9 per cent of Afghan adults were working. Please try to know more about things before you call people racist, if they were contributing to the Australian economy I would say YES let them come but I do not want by dependents burdened with a growing deficit to support welfare for lifers and country shoppers.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Hi Philip. Author, title, publisher, date. Maybe even a link? First it was a government report, now it is a report commissioned by DIAC. make up your mind. That is a simple enough request Philip. My students are required to do this to justify their assertions and allow others to respond and criticise adequately.
They aren’t welfare for lifers and country shoppers. Those are racist appellations used to justify racist actions, for example black-birding people to offshore processing, to satisfy the racists in Australian society.
The long term contribution of refugees is economically positive.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Yes open the borders. capitl can flow anywhere. Wy not labour? Not many want to come here. Most want to go home – for example the 4.5 million Palestinians denied access to their former homelands; the Tamils subjected to genocide at the hands of the Sri Lankan government, a government the Australian government supports. And so on.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 8:45 pm
You come on to my blog and make racist comments and then claim you are not a racist. I’m not a racist but….
The fact that the racists can claim they aren’t racists shows how thoroughly imbued racism is in Australian society. Look at our racist history, first with the genocide, historical and ongoing, against Aboriginal people, second the White Australia polciy and third the frenzy against refugees, people from non-Anglo backgrounds fleeing persecution, war etc, often created by us on our white man’s burden of ‘liberating’ them.
Verify the facts then. Same deal. Author, title, publication date, publisher, link….
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 9:00 pm
John, you again show your ignorance the Immigration Department is a Government body you need to do more research find it yourself you seem to be getting all hot and bothered the tone of your language is changing to nearly hostile.
The report was released on the weekend of the Royal wedding that way it did not receive much front page coverage. FOI will find it.
If you do not want people to come on your blog with a different outlook don’t do one or close the comments section.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I blog to create debate on the left and to spread left wing ideas and influencing the undecided, not to debate defenders of Australian government racism.
You can’t supply any details of the paper from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (note correct name of the Department), or perhaps a report by someone else commissioned by them. I suspect you mean the report by the Australian Research Survey Group for DIAC called Settlement Outcomes of New Arrivals – Report of findings
Study for Department of Immigration and Citizenship
APRIL 2011 here is a link. http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/research/_pdf/settlement-outcomes-new-arrivals.pdf
Your comment about 85% on welfare needs a little bit of more analysis since that includes study support etc. Chart 11 gives the lie to your welfare for life nonsense. Many are not surprisingly studying to go into the work force after years of interruption because of war etc.
The report says:
While Humanitarian entrants are less likely to be working compared with other streams, they are
far more likely to be studying full-time, studying and working or studying and looking after their
families. Given that we are exploring only the first five years of settlement in this study, this is
not a surprising result as many Humanitarian entrants are strongly focused on creating a new life,
and studying for a qualification is an important step in this journey. As outlined in chart 11
earlier, after 4 years living in Australia, around 40% of Humanitarian entrants have a job of some
type.
But hey, don’t let facts and reasoning stand in the way of your racist and vilifying ‘conclusion’ of them as being on welfare for life.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Malcolm Fraser: PM’s Pacific Solution is racist http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/pms-pacific-solution-is-racist-fraser-20120814-2466c.html#poll
Comment from Philip
Time August 14, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Quote “I blog to create debate on the left and to spread left wing ideas” – It also appears you do not like anyone who has an opposite view or does not completely agree with your left wing views.
If you are this staunch in your view and only accept left wing political points I am lucky to not have any of my family as one of your students.
Your whole tone to opposite or alternative points of view is almost hostile.
Please do not complain to me if your taxes are raised or pension benefits etc lowered or even essential services cut to pay for the influx you desire.
The money tree does not exist.
Comment from John
Time August 14, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Yes Philip, I am hostile to ignorant racists who lie about supposed welfare for lifers. Go and debate with your mates in the ALP or Liberal Party. To put it in words you might undertand: Fuck off you racist shit.
Comment from Philip
Time August 15, 2012 at 12:08 am
John to quote you “Fuck off you racist shit.” not the words I would have expected on this forum.
You really now are showing your true colors, 85% on welfare after 5 years is a fact. You lack tolerance and an open mind traits which a good teacher needs. I pity your students.
Comment from Philip
Time August 15, 2012 at 12:35 am
John I just found this reply from you to another person Quote ” Comment from John Passant
Time January 11, 2009 at 6:23 pm
So? An educaiton to my mind implies an enquiring mind, dealing with issues ratioanlly and rebutting others ina decent and well thouht out manner. your commetns so far don’t indiciate that. They do however indicate an elitist mindset.” Please be so kind as to practice what you preach.
Comment from John
Time August 15, 2012 at 7:58 am
Philip, you come on here to make the racist and incorrect case that refugees are welfare bludgers for life when this is clearly false, even using the report you didn’t have the wherewithal to find. Don’t presume to judge me you racist little lying turd. Crawl back under the rock with your mates and continue to vilify refugees and lie about them. My students, at least the ones who can think, are fine.
Comment from John
Time August 15, 2012 at 8:36 am
I disprove your racist lies and conclusions from the very material you present and you accuse me of not having an open mind. Ha. I suppose it is true. I don’t have an open mind for racists who use ‘facts’ to make conclusions about asylum seekers which are completely untrue.
Comment from Philip
Time August 15, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Come in spinner.
Comment from Paul Palmer
Time August 13, 2012 at 9:45 pm
I agree John flawed report by a flawed panel. Its bullshit, the cost is more than being processed in australia, it wont stop the boats!