Sad day for Australia.
Feb 16th 2011, 8:44 pm
#16
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Re: Sad day for Australia.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the nine-year-old boy orphaned in the Christmas Island shipwreck will be released from detention next week and will be able to live in a house in Sydney.
(Source).$300,000 to cover the funerals for the dead, plus flights and accommodation for the relatives; now a 9 year old orphan is released from detention so he can live with his extended family in Sydney.
I can't see anything to be ashamed of. Three cheers for the Australian government today!
Bit too late in my opinion. The minister only reacting after realising how incredibly insensitive his decision was and how embarrassing it looks for Australia. For Bowen to not realize this is beyond belief.
Feb 17th 2011, 2:28 am
#17
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Re: Sad day for Australia.
C'mon .. a few years ago they'd have sent him back, then rounded up his extended family and sent them back with him. 
Feb 17th 2011, 12:29 pm
#18
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Location: Ilukapool. WA
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Re: Sad day for Australia.
Politician on the news this morning reckons there are 500 or so unaccompanied kids in immigration detention.
If this is true it's pretty shocking and means that this boy only got released because he was on the telly.
If this is true it's pretty shocking and means that this boy only got released because he was on the telly.
Feb 17th 2011, 9:21 pm
#19
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Hillarys, Perth
Posts: 3,973
Re: Sad day for Australia.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the nine-year-old boy orphaned in the Christmas Island shipwreck will be released from detention next week and will be able to live in a house in Sydney.
(Source).$300,000 to cover the funerals for the dead, plus flights and accommodation for the relatives; now a 9 year old orphan is released from detention so he can live with his extended family in Sydney.
I can't see anything to be ashamed of. Three cheers for the Australian government today!
Feb 17th 2011, 9:31 pm
#20
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Re: Sad day for Australia.
Playing Devils Advocate here, just because they're family doesn't make them the best people to look after the child. They could be crack-heads, have no money to feed him, perverts, anything.
How would the Government look if they sent him to live with these people (ones he probably hasn't seen for years on end) and then he gets abused or neglected by them, or he runs away?
It's not nice that he has to go to the detention centre there but I don't think he'll be treated like a prisoner. They'll have social workers who will be there for him while his family will be assessed to see if they can care for the boy properly.
I say good on the Australian Government for not just dumping him with people who happen to be family.
How would the Government look if they sent him to live with these people (ones he probably hasn't seen for years on end) and then he gets abused or neglected by them, or he runs away?
It's not nice that he has to go to the detention centre there but I don't think he'll be treated like a prisoner. They'll have social workers who will be there for him while his family will be assessed to see if they can care for the boy properly.
I say good on the Australian Government for not just dumping him with people who happen to be family.
