sonlymewalter

In an ideal world everyone likes to think no one is tortured, persecuted or imprisoned for their religious or political beliefs. Reality says it happens and it will always happen. No amount of boat people will stop it.

Especially those who bypass safe countries to get here.

eddie007

And anyone who IS facing these circumstances should be understood for trying to escape them

sonlymewalter

Understanding is one thing. Condoning is another.

Boat people is not the way to go. Doesn't work on any level.

And until it stops nothing is going to be gained.

roaringmouse

FFS, are we really back to that ignorant, offensive and inaccurate kind of statement again?

Asylum Seekers are NOT illegal immigrants.
Very few asylum seekers turn out to not be genuine (less than 10% I think I evidenced in a different thread).
Australia is also not exactly bursting at the seams when it comes to asylum seekers.

I've previously linked to UN stats on a different thread showing all of this.

sonlymewalter

Illegal immigrants or boat people - by crossing safe boarders just to enter Australia - the same thing applies. They are not seeking refuge they are deliberately attempting to enter Australia. People don't give a shit that Aus isn't bursting at the seams, they give a shit that Aus doesn't have the infrastructure or resources to cope with it.

There are people in Australia who are losing their life as they can't get medical treatment in this country due to lack of funding.Charity begins at home.

eddie007

Details please? Of these people who are loosing there lives due to lack of health funding.

sonlymewalter

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/12...t-times-grows/

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/87...death-sentence

eddie007

In the "Leader" article the surgeon says people "could" die

A current affair? Not a credible source IMHO.

Health economics sucks in ANY culture... But we aren't talking about health tourists here are we?

Swerv-o

Is there a link for these claims? I have found the Australian press to be almost obfuscating on this issue - Very few sites willing to mention that the RAN didn't render assistance.

It seems like a cone of silence has enveloped the entire story.


S

paulry

So why didn't they stop at the first safe country they got to?

sonlymewalter

Actually Professor Morris didn't say they "could" die - Quote from the article said "Professor Morris, who built the peritonectomy unit to an international standing, said such cost-cutting by NSW Health would endanger lives". That's much more of a sureity than "could".

He was extremely clear that all the work he's done to save lives has now taken a backward step due to cost cutting and he can no longer work to the standards he once did. Cost cutting his budget has meant he cannot perform the same amount of surgeries he needed to stop people dying and Australia is going backwards in it's healthcare system due to this

I also posted the Current Affair article as in this instance it is in fact a credible story. A mother of 5 kids not getting the life saving operation she needs due to budget cost cutting. Professor Morris was included in the Current Affair programme as he was the one to highlight this issue and he is an extremely credible source and would know far more than most I would think.

Yes - I agree health economics suck in any culture. Another good reason to look closer to home and sort your own shit out first. Fighting wars and saving boat people who bypass other safe countries is all well and good if people are being looked after in our own country first. With an aging population and more money going out than in, we cannot afford to condone spending on boat people who bypass other safe countries to get into a country of their choice. It's only going to get worse and it doesn't work anyway. The people smugglers are the ones who gain. It's not going away and it's only going to get worse.

sonlymewalter

Exactly!

This is what is pissing people off - if this isn't economic migration what is it?

Asylum seekers seeking refuge would genuinely stop at the nearest safe country - not continue in rough seas threatening their lives and their children's lives

paulry

Agreed. The Australian sea rescue taxi service is part of the people smugglers' business plan. Remove the taxi service and the plan falls apart and ultimately less people will risk their lives on over-crowded, rickety boats.

What puzzles me about this whole thing is why the boat arrivals are called asylum seekers when its clear the vast majority are non-government-approved economic migrants who passed through safe countries to get here.

sonlymewalter

It is "argued" that the very nature of non government approved is due to people not daring to ask to leave for fear of being persecuted. However what I find strange is these very people arrive by boat, no papers so we have no idea of their individual backgrounds and whether they are indeed persecuted or not and further more they bypass safe countries to get here. None of this behaviour smacks of genuine persecution

People are sick and tired of this deviousness and in this instance to call to be rescued by Australian rescue services whilst in another countries waters is just plain taking the piss

sonlymewalter

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politi...928-2uku2.html