The recent issue involving the Tampa boat people has raised two persisting questions. Who is a refugee and where should he or she find refuge? A refugee is a person who is being persecuted, be it for religious, ethnic or political reasons. Traditionally, refugees sought sanctuary in their own geographical or cultural environment to return home as soon as it was safe. However, the revolution in transport and communications, continual poverty and prolonged internal conflicts have combined to create a feeling of discontent in the Third World. Consequently, this has led to a globalisation of population movement.
A combined mass of refugees, asylum seekers and illegal migrants, mostly of Middle Eastern origin, are paying smugglers thousands of dollars a head to arrange illegal passage to Australia. Within this mass of people only a small minority are genuine refugees in need of sanctuary. The vast majority are either refugees who already have asylum and are in no danger of persecution, or illegal migrants trying to pass themselves off as refugees.
Generally you would expect that a refugees main purpose would be to leave, however, increasingly the purpose of most these people is not so much to leave as to arrive. In the case of the Tampa boat people, the group is mostly comprised or Afghans, coming from Pakistan. It is possible that these Afghans were indeed refugees, but they had received asylum in Pakistan. They had then arrived in Indonesia, with the sole purpose of departing Indonesia to illegally arrive in Australia. These people are therefore not refugees, as the only danger to which they were submitted was self-induced when they embarked on an unsafe journey in breach of Australian immigration laws.
In another case of boat people attempting to illegally enter Australia, children where thrown overboard and the engine of the vessel sabotage in shock tactics to force their way into Australia. Prime Minister John Howard said, “the tactics were not the actions of genuine refugees”. Mr Howard also said, “Australia would not be pressured by inhumane tactics into allowing illegal immigrants to land”. The Herald Sun’s vote line has shown the overwhelming majority of the public to be in favour of Mr Howard’s tough new stand on the problem of boat people.
There are several reasons why Australia should not accept migrants arriving illegally on our shores. Firstly, every person that enters Australian waters on a boat that has departed from Indonesia is not a refugee. When in Indonesia these people are in no any danger of persecution. When they violate Australian immigration laws and claim refugee status, they are in fact illegal migrants trying to pass themselves off as refugees.
Secondly, Australia has an extremely generous asylum policy, and after Canada takes more refugees/asylum seekers in relation to its population than any other country. “Refugees” can apply for immigration to Australia from outside the country, and large numbers do so, going through set procedures and waiting their turn. Allowing these boat people to queue jump would make it unfair for every person who goes through the right channels to migrate, and also make a mockery of the system.
People smuggling like all businesses depends on demand. If Australia just allows boatloads and boatloads of people to arrive on our shores, then the success of these illegal immigrants will fuel further demand for people smuggling. The tough new stand on people smuggling adopted by the Australian government is necessary to stem the flow of illegal boat people to Australia.
