Keywords: Christmas Islan
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INTERNATIONAL
- Andrew Hamilton
- 16 February 2011
39 Comments
Even in death asylum seekers open a faultline in Australian culture and society. The two Sydney funerals for the asylum seekers who died trying to reach Christmas Island raise larger questions that deserve comment.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Tony Kevin
- 20 December 2010
23 Comments
It is curious and sad that in weeks when our media are celebrating WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, we can accept so easily a government-managed story, whose public accountability obligation stares us in the face. Perhaps because editors know that our complacent society really does not want to go there.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Kerry Murphy
- 17 December 2010
12 Comments
Let's hope Wednesday's tragic events are not exploited for political advantage. We remember those who died and offer prayers and condolences for their families. For the living, they need to be treated with dignity.
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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
- Andrew Hamilton
- 21 June 2010
5 Comments
I remember the 250,000 Cambodians in Site Two by the Thai border, and among them Chea, the sister of a friend, who died when the camp was shelled. I remember the many who spent years in Australian detention centres, and the sadness of watching as the light went out of the eyes of those detained for more than six months.
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INTERNATIONAL
Abbott's 'red arrows' asulym seeker ad is reminiscent of the 'reds under the beds' hysteria of the '50s and '60s. With an election on the way, the immigration policy reform agenda has been put aside as both Government and Opposition harden their policies.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Kerry Murphy
- 30 March 2010
4 Comments
Once again the coalition is inflaming passions about what is actually an insignificant number of people arriving in Australian waters and claiming asylum. Unfortunately the Government is getting caught up in this debate because it insists on maintaining the excision and Christmas Island Centre.
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AUSTRALIA
- Tony Kevin
- 05 November 2009
11 Comments
Peter
Costello draws a long bow in presuming smugglers provided the boat that sank off the Cocos Islands this week. As with the sinking of the SIEV X, it is unfortunate that it takes a tragedy to remind us that at the heart of this issue are desperate human beings.
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AUSTRALIA
- Kerry Murphy
- 15 October 2009
17 Comments
A hysterical response to the arrival of boats in Australia could undo
the progress we have made away from unjust policy. Most asylum seekers
have already experienced serious trauma. To return to a temporary visa
regime will separate families for years and cause anxiety.
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INFORMATION
- Chris Bisset
- 15 October 2009
4 Comments
Kevin Rudd calls them the 'vilest form of people on the planet'. How dare these impoverished, yet slightly entrepreneurial fishermen let
their social consciousness blind them from considering the interests of
white Australians?
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 18 August 2009
1 Comment
Before the mission was established here, the local Aboriginal community of 200 persons was forced to host 1000 convicts from the mainland for eight years. I daresay not all the convicts were easy-going beachcombers.
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AUSTRALIA
- Michael Mullins
- 20 April 2009
9 Comments
The military misadventures of nations
including Australia contribute greatly to the motivation of
asylum seekers. Australian immigration policy must de-emphasise border protection in favour of being a 'good international citizen'.
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