Immigration over the last 30 years has not worked in Australia's favour, particularly where refugees are concerned.
How so?
Can you prove this beyond reasonable doubt?
My father is an immigrant, he came over here 30 years ago from Britain. I have friends at work who are refugees from other countries, so I fail to see your point here. The people at work pull their weight like everyone else, and earn an honest living like everyone else. There was some scare mongering going on about ghettos developing in country Victoria a couple of years back by certain people (mainly through their own fear of anyone who was a bit different to them), but there has been a calming of the waters and everyone seems to get along well now. These people are adjusting to our way of life, and are learning/embracing our culture more and more everyday. They're prepared to make the effort to become a part of our community.
Comments like your's annoy me because they show a complete lack of understanding about refugees. They are people like you and me. They have their strengths, and they have their weaknesses, like you and me. You are simply judging these people because of their nationality and their religion. Because they're a different colour or have different facial features to you, you automatically beleive any piece of mis-information you are fed via whatever source, and fear them because of that difference. I don't fear these people. I know that if they are accepted and play up, their visas will be cancelled, and they'll be on the first flight out of here. If these people are prepared to risk their lives to come to our country and become part of our national fabric, then I am prepared to give them a fair go.
So, 2301, I put this to you:
Turn the Radio and/or T.V off; put down the newspaper, and get out into the real world. Meet some people. You might find that things are nowhere near as bad as you think they are, or as bad as you have been told they are. You never know - you might actually like these people, and change your opinion.
One only has to look at western Sydney and other parts of our capital cities to realise that there are major problems brewing
Such as? Are we talking about actual refugees, or first or second generation children of immigrants who have a chip on their shoulder for some reason or another?
there has been too much emphasis on pandering to multiculturalism instead of integration, which is evident with the ethnic ghettos which have formed.
Ethnic ghettos? Please tell me you are not referring to immigrants who live with people from their country of origin, because they find it harder (especially elderly immigrants) to relate to our way of life? These suburban ethnic communities have existed since time immorial.
So Barrington, if you can't see parallel lines between the UK and Australia's past immigration policies and where we are heading, I think you should take the blinkers off!
There we go with the blinkers again...
Read my first paragraph again, Sport. The amount of refugees which the UK have accepted is many thousands more than what we have allowed into our country. Do you really think that the trickle of refugees we have coming to Australia is going to cause problems like they have in the UK? The UK has a lot less space (it's the size of Victoria) with millions more people crammed into it. So no, I don't see the parallel. Anyway, why couldn't any situation be monitored and managed
if there was any inkling of trouble brewing?
Re: policy. What exactly is Tony Abbott's policy?
He's been extremely quiet since the election about nearly everything. He has quietly embraced the PNG solution which was brought in by Rudd prior to the election (the reason it was brought in is irrelevent now, it's in place and seems to work). He didn't put the hard word on the Indonesian government like he was advocating prior to the election either. In fact, he was rather demure with them - especially after those boats were towed back. I think he may have realised that by doing that he could well have alienated the Indonesian government, and any talks or agreements with them would be off the table as a result.
Three boats arrived in our waters in the last week or so - two at Christmas Island, and one actually made it to Darwin. An interesting scenario considering Mr. Abbott was so vocal about "stopping the boats" before the election, and promised his voters that he would do so once elected. He's been elected, but hasn't stopped anything so far - he hasn't even come close yet. Actually, the only thing he has stopped is talking to the media when they try and ask him questions. He told Australia in his victory speech that his government would make themselves accountable. Dodging questions is anything but accountable, and I find this to be quite a worry.
I see some sheik from overseas was in Sydney last night advocating that muslims should not be integrating into western society; he seemed to have a large following of supporters.
Heh. I have seen Jehovah's Witness followers trying to convert people before. They don't seem to like people who have different beliefs to themselves, nor do the Catholic Church for that matter. I am curious. If Cardinal George Pell was on the T.V and said exactly the same thing as this Sheik, would you bat an eyelid? If not, why?
Maybe it's time for the virtuous types like Barrington to stop being so naïve and kumbaya, and wake up to the fact that not everyone in the world has the same ideals and values as we do.
Read my first paragraph again. I deal and socialise with people who were refugees five days a week at work. These people are my friends. They pull their weight and work like everyone else - in fact, they are prepared to do all the sh*t jobs that no-one else wants to do. They pay their taxes and add to our economy like everyone else. They are prepared to learn about our way of life so they can fit in with us, despite still having their own religion(s) and cultural roots. They deserve a fair go. How are the people on the boats any different to the people who I work with?
I am simply not prepared to fear, judge or demonise people because the media or some politician try to scare me into it - that is being naive.
Also what's with all the "kumbaya" garbage you keep persisting with? Can it.
Just because someone wants to live here doesn't always mean they choose to do so for the right reasons.
The same could be said about anyone immigrating to Australia, not just refugees.
P.S. The resettlement of the Vietnamese boat people did not work well for Australia like you are implying; this can be evidenced by the drug and crime trade in certain parts of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Can you supply any proof for this accusation?
Drugs and crime were here long before the Vietnamese refugees were. Perhaps you should wave that banner at some of the European immigrants who are or were linked with the Mafia. I am sure you'd find they are a lot worse than the Vietnamese allegedly are.