On 25/09/2011 12:01 PM, Jason White wrote:
According to ALP polling, a certain proportion (10%)? of voters are overtly xenophobic. A much larger proportion has xenophobic tendencies that can be exploited by the Coalition - these include people who voted for the ALP in the last election but who could switch their votes partly or entirely in response to this issue.
I'm not so sure that the Coalition attracts a more xenophobic follower than the ALP. Traditionally, including the Howard government, the Coalition, and its conservative predecessor, have adopted a more liberal approach to immigration. Although the driving force has not always been altruistic. A _terrific_ example of almost ALP xenophobia going on at the moment is the Qantas engineers industrial action. They have not said a word about the Qantas aircraft being maintained by Americans and British maintenance staff at other destinations but those "strange" Asian types!? I think they'd like to kill 'em. NOTE: I've worked for, Australian Air Express, a Qantas subsidiary and they really don't like anything to do with Singapore or its Airline.
Then there is another small proportion (10%?) who favour more humane treatment of refugees
I really believe that almost all Australians support the humane treatment of refugees _BUT_ how on earth do we know that the people who arrive here under their own steam _ARE_ refugees?! Also, refuge is a privilege not a right. We need to think in terms of ourselves seeking refuge outside Australia to understand that.
To be totally clear on this point, I am strongly in favour of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and opposed to any policy that would diminish those rights or exacerbate the suffering of people who are already vulnerable and who have lived with the experience, or at least the well-founded fear of persecution. I do not support either off-shore processing of claims or mandatory detention; and I don't vote for the Labor Party either.
Ditto on the humane treatment of refugees, but Australia should be selecting who is and who is not a refuge. Until they are deemed to be refugees they are here without visas. I believe we need to deter those taking advantage of Australia when they are without need of refuge. I did vote Labor in the last election, and I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise. And as most proponents of "let 'em all in" seem to think that those who aren't are racist bastards, I strongly believe that immigration is vital to this country and I believe offering refuge on compassionate grounds is vital to our humanity and moral fibre. The whole problem of undocumented arrivals is very complex and will take some time to resolve. However, it is the governments job to do as the nation wishes. If the majority of Australians wanted the boats painted pink, no matter how stupid it may seem to the pollies, then they should be painted pink. I have a feeling this issue has also become an exercise by the Australian people of "we run this country, not the politicians". Something Australians seem to grasp far better than most others. Cheers, Mike PS: I thought that was you on telly last night Lev! You're a movie star now, can I have your autograph?!