Australia's Moral Obligation

‘For those who come across the sea, we’ve boundless plains to share.’

So states this nation’s anthem. All across this land, this anthem is sung with pride and enthusiasm, but is it with integrity? Are we really prepared to share this countries resources and boundless plains with those who come to Australia? Australia has  a moral obligation to accept its fair share of the world’s refugees and asylum seekers. Our country is vast and plentiful, rich in resources, and comparatively the number of asylum seekers is very small. Quite simply the arguments against allowing refugees into our country are often based on prejudice, misinformation and lack humanity.

The graves of two little girls are unmarked on the rocky hillside save one large rock. Through his grief Abdul Azmin Rajabi tells his story in the documentary THE RETURNEES.  Like many asylum seekers, he was forced to flee from his country after being persecuted and terrorized by the Afghanistan Taliban. The reason for such persecution was simple; Abdul married for love, to a woman whose faith was not Islamic, a crime worthy of death in some nations. It was only after Abduls Father was brutally tortured and murdered for protecting his son and keeping his whereabouts unknown from the Taleban that Abdul fled his country seeking Asylum in Australia. With his wife and two little girls hidden with relatives, Abdul made the long journey by boat and like all refugees was placed in mandatory detention. Soon after, Abduls was a offered an ultimatum, Australian immigration would pay him $2000 to return ‘voluntarily’ to his country or otherwise remain in Nauru detention centre indefinitely. His chances of staying in Australia were almost non existent under the government policies. Immigration officers assured him his country was safe to return to. He reluctantly accepted the return to his safe homeland  and after two years of separation reunited his family in Afghanistan. .

Little more than four months later a targeted grenade struck his home, killing his two little girls, who were playing with their toys, close to the window. Local authorities believe the Taleban was behind the attack, which was specifically aimed at the Rajabi family. 

How can Australia honestly say they did all they could for this man and his family? What reason could possibly justify our actions and intentions towards this man and other refugees in similar situations? This is just one story out of  millions. , it is true we cannot accept all of the world’s asylum seekers however we must accept our global responsibility and take our fair share of the dispossessed. Our previous polices towards the refugees were shameful. Whilst the current government has wound back the policy, political pressure and considerations continue to dictate the future of the asylum seekers rather than fairness and humanity.

Australia is the only western country that still maintains the practice of mandatory detention of asylum seekers and has been branded as the most severe. The mandatory detention of refugees in Australia goes against the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The conservative government of former Prime Minister, John Howard took a hard-line approach, resulting in mandatory detention and the deportation of many refugees. This policy divided the nation and many organisations called for a more humane approach.

History will no doubt record the impact of Tampa on Australian society as significant and shameful. The appalling politicalization of these oppressed people driven from their homeland by persecution created an unjustified fear and division not seen in Australia since we cast off the chains of the white Australia policy.

The level of bigotry released into our community, from the Tampa episode and by the climate of fear fostered in the shameful use of detention centres grew daily. Few of us really understood – fed by politicians on one hand and by media on the other.  But if any of us could really understand the reality of life for the inhabitants who fled persecution, misery, war and the harsh dictatorial regimes, we could not possibly stand by and let people, especially children, live in despair in wired compounds.

Australia is a vast and resourceful country “our land abounds with nature’s gifts. However at present Australia fills a resettlement quota of 9,000 refugees yearly, compare this to an estimated 42 million refugees. This is just .00015% of the world’s refugees. Australia is ranked fifteen out of the 30 OECD wealthiest countries, yet we are contributing the least. Compared these statistics to smaller countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands who annually accept over 40, 000 refugees. It is time Australia starts pulling it weight and takes a stand for humanity and principles.

The arguments against the refugees are completely baseless and unjustified. Many argue with out evidence and based on prejudice that thee asylum seekers are illegal, they are queue jumpers and majority of them are terrorists. However under the Australian and International Law any person is entitled to apply for refugee asylum in another nation when escaping persecution. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” Even boat people who arrive on our shore with no documents are not classified illegal as many are forced to leave in haste with oppressive authorities preventing migration.

The myth that boat people are queue jumpers is nonsense as Australia currently has no diplomatic representation in Iraq or Afghanistan, the top two nation in which asylum seekers flee. Therefore there are no queues to jump, only countries to flee.

Statistic show that only 3% of Australia’s new arrivals arrive by boat, the other 97% by plane. In fact the biggest numbers of illegal immigrants are queue jumpers as they are British and other European tourists who overstay their visa to live here.

As a final resort many argue that asylum seekers cannot be trusted and will only terrorize out country and citizens. The escalation in world conflict since September 11 has seen unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers worldwide parallel to an increasing fear and distrusting attitude towards the refugees. However, statistics show that only eleven people out of 13 500 who recently sought Asylum in Australia were rejected based on ‘character grounds.’ The terrorist’s movement is a well funded and highly organized with training and much planning put into the attack. Logically they are not going to risk the effort by attempting to arrive here by a boat which has traversed a dangerous and perilous route. Many refugees are in fact families fleeing persecution, oppression and are searching for a higher quality of life.

So why do we continue to demonize these people? Why do we allow them to be treated so badly or at least turn a blind eye? Why did we not collectively rise up when families, after years of trauma and humiliation, were loaded like cattle onto a chartered aircraft in the middle of the night and returned to their places of persecution?  When an action flies in the face of our multiculturalism and our banner of tolerance meets with little response, it is time we reassessed our values and our commitment to what it right.

It is time we ditch the fear and loathing approach that has lain beneath so much of Australia’s political psyche over so many years, and give a rational approach a go. It worked in Prime Minister Fraser’s era of the Vietnam War and it will go so again. Come on - Fair go Australia.

Australia need to start pulling its weight, if small nations like Sweden with a population of only 8 million can accept 40000 and provide for them as human beings why not us? Together, we must strive for human dignity.  We must welcome people and understand that they all have the right to a life free from oppression and persecution.

It is time for a change; we cannot continue to turn a blind eye. We must collectively rise up and to welcome those from across the seas. For those who’ve come across the seas

We’ve boundless plains to share. So with courage let us all combine to advance Australia fair.