Asylum Seekers In Australia Essay

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Australian asylum-seeker compromise may yet be scuttled by politics Asylum-seekers arriving by boat on Australian shores have been pawns in the country’s national politics for decades. In August 2001, then Prime Minister John Howard refused permission for the Norwegian freighter, MV Tampa, carrying 438 Afghan refugees rescued from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters. This decision, and a subsequent order for Australian special forces to board the Tampa when it entered Australian waters, attracted international opprobrium. But it won Howard a closely-fought election a few months later when, in the wake of September 11, he campaigned heavily on the issue of asylum-seekers arriving by boat to a…show more content…
Evidence of the latter is seen in both parties already claiming credit for the policy breakthrough. But there are significant issues not addressed, and significant opportunities missed. The recommendations do not assist asylum-seekers in countries where Australia has no immigration staff. Asylum-seekers from Afghanistan and Pakistan, two of the largest sources of refugees, have no formal channels to seek asylum, no queues to jump. Immigration protocols in other countries also need overhauling, to provide streamlined assistance with clear criteria, priorities and timelines. Many successful asylum-seekers are skilled and experienced workers, seeking a new life, safety and prosperity for themselves and their families, at a time of essentially full employment in Australia and labour shortages in some sectors. It seems short-sighted not to consider the skills and experience they can offer Australian employers and communities along with their need for

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