Coalition's cruel new refugee policy says much about us - Women's Agenda

Coalition’s cruel new refugee policy says much about us

Here’s how to play successful politics in Australia: When things get tough in the polls, you look for vulnerable groups to attack.

They don’t get much more vulnerable than those seeking shelter from persecution overseas, especially those who’re desperate enough to attempt to arrive by boat.

The problem is that when you’ve hit rock bottom on cruelty, it’s hard to know where to go next. In the case of Australia’s popular move to take on Asylum Seekers: What happens when you successfully ‘stop the boats’? How do you distract the public and prove you’re tough on border security when the only remaining individuals you can attack are currently languishing on an island somewhere, forced into conditions you’re not even willing to let the media explore?

Well if you’re the Turnbull Government – led by the same man who was only this time last year pushing a forward-looking ‘innovation’ agenda and an end to the ‘three word slogans’ — you get some inspiration from the One Nation party, and start doing a little innovating to come up some stupid policies of your own.

That’s what the Coalition did over the weekend in proposing its lifetime ban initiative, with any individual — regardless of whether they’re found to be refugees or not — who’s been detained in offshore centres on PNG, Nauru and Manus Island stopped from ever entering Australia. Not even on business. Not even as tourists.

The ban will extend back to July 19, 2013, the day Kevin Rudd announced that, “As of today, Asylum Seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia” during his second go at prime minister. It will not be applied to the thousands who arrive every year by plane.

While Australian politicians no longer seem concerned about breaching the 1951 Refugee Convention, it should be noted this move appears to contravene article 31, which says signatories must not penalise refugees for their mode of arrival.

One Nation quickly endorsed the move, with Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts declaring the government was “dancing to our tune”. Leader Pauline Hanson tweeted that it’s “good to see that it looks like the Government is now taking its cues from One Nation. Just like last time.” That must make Malcolm Turnbull proud. 

Is this really being done to deter people arriving by boat? By its own admission, the Government has already stopped the boats. The Liberal Party released a press release earlier this month boasting ‘800 days without the arrival of one illegal people smuggling boat to Australia.”

This is being done because the Coalition needs a distraction, some kind of move to make it look tough, and protective, and in line with the rising, popular views of some of those on the cross-bench. 

 

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