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ISN’T IT IRONIC?
“…For those who’ve come across the seas,
We’ve boundless plains to share…”
[Advance Australia Fair]
Did you know that our national antyem states those exact words? Isn't it ironic?
No countries in the world have gone to such lengths to close their borders to those fleeing repression and terror. No countries turn back leaky fishing boats packed with hundreds of asylum seekers and refuse to take responsibility for the consequences. And no countries so openly violate their international obligations to refugees... That is to say, no countries except Australia.
There are over 14 million refugees worldwide*. In 2001, 13545 people applied for refugee status in Australia. The sad truth is that only 15% were successful. That’s approximately 2000 people, or 0.01% of the world’s refugees. So what happened to the other 11000 desperate applicants? These people were sent back to the countries they feared most- the countries they had to flee for fear of persecution. Who kno...
“…For those who’ve come across the seas,
We’ve boundless plains to share…”
[Advance Australia Fair]
Did you know that our national antyem states those exact words? Isn't it ironic?
No countries in the world have gone to such lengths to close their borders to those fleeing repression and terror. No countries turn back leaky fishing boats packed with hundreds of asylum seekers and refuse to take responsibility for the consequences. And no countries so openly violate their international obligations to refugees... That is to say, no countries except Australia.
There are over 14 million refugees worldwide*. In 2001, 13545 people applied for refugee status in Australia. The sad truth is that only 15% were successful. That’s approximately 2000 people, or 0.01% of the world’s refugees. So what happened to the other 11000 desperate applicants? These people were sent back to the countries they feared most- the countries they had to flee for fear of persecution. Who kno...
Posted by: Darren McCutchen
Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.