Keywords: Offshore Detention
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AUSTRALIA
- David Palmer
- 16 August 2011
20 Comments
In this debate, moral passion is common, especially among those who cast themselves as refugee advocates. But moral passion should not be confused with moral superiority. Any claim to occupy the moral high ground in this complex area of public policy is at best brave and at worst self-serving.
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AUSTRALIA
- Kerry Murphy
- 27 July 2011
3 Comments
An old legal maxim is 'hard cases make bad law'. Maybe complex cases compromise policy. Refugee law and policy is complex and the Malaysian agreement signed this week is another example of a compromise on human rights principles for political expedience.
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AUSTRALIA
- Michael Mullins
- 27 June 2011
3 Comments
The international community tends to back 'democratic' revolutions, rather than national unity, in countries of the Middle East. This is good for majority populations, but Christians and other minorities can be the losers. If they're forced to flee, they become part of the 'refugee problem'.
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AUSTRALIA
- Kerry Murphy
- 23 June 2011
2 Comments
The Rudd Government promised positive reforms after a decade of 'boat people'-bashing from the previous government. Three years later, we are back where we were. To understand how this happened it is helpful to overview the changes under Labor and the gradual decline in 'key immigration values'.
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AUSTRALIA
- Fatima Measham
- 15 June 2011
18 Comments
Voters who'd otherwise position themselves between the conservative Liberals and radical Greens are stranded. They are looking for leaders who would rather lose big on matters of principle than win by a margin on compromised policy. History has shown Labor to be the natural home for such leaders.
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INTERNATIONAL
Just as it should be the role of lawyers and refugee advocates to analyse the disadvantages and possible unlawful elements of this announcement, we must also consider the opportunities. The Malaysian agreement may also deliver good news for some asylum seekers and the refugee sector.
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AUSTRALIA
Last November, a refugee boat was lost at sea en route to Christmas Island. It's presumed the 97 on board perished. Evidence suggests Australia's Border Protection Command selectively chooses to make little or no effort to find and help SIEV boats in possible distress.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Kerry Murphy
- 12 November 2010
6 Comments
A litmus test for the health of a democracy is what a Government does when it loses cases in the highest court in the land. The first consequence of yesterday's High Court decision regarding the cases of two Tamil asylum seekers is that many cases will need to be reconsidered.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Kerry Murphy
- 24 September 2010
9 Comments
The recent tragic death of a man in Villawood Detention Centre has again raised questions about the need for Australia's harmful detention policy. Strong leadership is required to reform the process and abandon the 'race to the bottom' we saw during the election.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Greg Foyster
- 13 August 2010
11 Comments
Every day, Australians face north and scan the horizon. Has another boat
arrived? But if our politicians and journalists want to see asylum
seekers living in poor conditions, they need to look closer to home.
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AUSTRALIA
- Susan Metcalfe
- 15 July 2010
20 Comments
While many are concerned about returning
to processing asylum seekers in poor Pacific countries, Nauru's caretaker
president is eager to be
involved. Australia should never again be engaged in dodgy deals with this
Pacific neighbour. For Nauru, it's all about the money.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 21 June 2010
14 Comments
As the election lather on the asylum seeker issue continues, let's ask, 'Why is
it right to treat the honest, unvisaed boat person more harshly than
the visaed airplane passenger who fails to declare their intention to
apply for asylum?'
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