Editorials

SRI LANKAN ASYLUM SEEKERS

01/11/09 14:57 Filed in: Australia
78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers are sitting on an Australian Customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, 10 nautical miles off the coast of Indonesia, demanding to come to Australia.

 It’s a stand-off that can only end in tears for the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, as he tries to ensure that they don’t get into Australia. Backing-down will open the floodgates for boat people who are poised to pay thieves and rogues huge sums to embark on the voyage in overcrowded, leaking sieves. Many will die.

My solution is simple.

 Give each seeker a number, and note the date and time. Then take them to a secure facility on Christmas Island or any Pacific Island that could do with the business of running a secure facility.

 Ensure that their application is listed in order.

 After the 115,000 people, (or whatever the number is this year), who apply under the Skilled Migration or Family Reunion system have been satisfied; and the 13,000 already waiting on the Humanitarian Program list have been taken-in; then start to process the queue jumpers.

 If they have to wait five years, then so be it. Many of the legitimate immigrants have waited that long or longer.

Allow the queue jumpers to understand that they will be charged a daily rate for their accommodation and care, the amount will be garnished from future earnings.

 Publicise the scheme worldwide, in many languages, that Australia is one of the most welcoming countries for immigrants on the planet. That the application can be made online from anywhere.

 But that queue-jumping will lessen your chances of success, and you will be handled last, after the well-behaved applicants have been served.

Let them know that if this policy is unacceptable, they are free to try Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China or New Zealand. Maybe they will receive a faster hearing. But I doubt it.

 READER RESPONDS:
 "The people who took over and immobilised the Australian ship Oceanic Viking three weeks ago are fed, watered and cared for. Not far away, people who take over ships off the east African coast are called pirates and chased by world navies." — Derek Scales, Phillip Island.  


Nov 1st , 2009.

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