From a reader of our website: My opinion of your group is that it is all crap. Take a look at the Suburbs that have been taken over by Muslims. Do you feel sorry for the genuine Australians that live there and on occasions have been forced to leave?
Civil liberties and human rights often involve finely-balanced judgements. In homelessness and welfare, resources are limited so tough decisions are needed. But natural cultural restraint can cost some people much-needed help, particularly Australia's Indigenous peoples. A CLA Darwin member cites some examples.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has called for politicians to abandon short term political goals and treat asylum seekers and Indigenous disadvantage through a human rights-based approach. After a six-day visit here, she is also calling for a "fully-fledged Human Rights Act" for Australia.
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Can the Prime Minister explain how capturing and trading refugees (with Malaysia in 2011) is different to capturing and trading African slaves two centuries ago? Sadly for her image as a negotiator, Julia Gillard dumps 800 captives on Malaysia and they dump 4000 captives on her. The Liberals have a dump-and-forget policy.
The Human Rights Commissioner's 2004 report paved the way for release of refugee children from detention. We've regressed: now more than 900 kids are behind bars and razor wire. It's time for some moral leadership from the top, writes the author of that report, and CLA member, Sev Ozdowski.
Photo: Sev Ozdowski hands down the report in 2004.
"Boat people," then-PM Howard warned us. "Queue jumpers" are not "genuine refugees" Howard's acolytes pounded into our heads. Boats are a "pipeline for terrorists," screamed Howard's Defence and Immigration departments.
There are signs throughout Australia, but particularly in Tasmania, that some long-standing laws need revisiting and reviewing, Jim Collier says. Overhauling the balance mechanism of the scales of justice is an important task for government, he says.
One government department says all is well in Afghanistan, so that boat people can safely be sent home. At the very same time, another government department is issuing dire warnings about how 'extremely dangerous' the place is.
People who think refugees do it easy on Christmas Island don't understand the reality of their situation, Marie Gordon writes. She refutes claims of Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison after his recent whistle-stop visit to CI.
Editor, Canberra Times: I agree with Prof Pat McGorry that immigration detention centres are "factories for producing mental illness". But I'd go further. I'd say federal laws designed to punish refugees (for who they are) are similar to the penal laws that England used to punish the Irish for who they were.
Christmas Island is full; the Red Block is over-stuffed; the Rudd Government's promises and policies over refugees are in tatters. Out of this unholy mess, Marie Gordon writes, at least we can have the decency to transfer refugee children and infants, with their carers, to the mainland.
Editor, Canberra Times: Sir, in 'Asylum-seekers blamed for Island's problems', 3/10/09, Senator Barnarby Joyce, who visited Christmas Island, declared the asylum-seekers "seem very happy here". It would be funny, if it weren't so tragic.
New arrivals seeking refuge should receive a different response from that of a decade ago, writes James Dunn, ex-diplomat and human rights expert. Australia has a moral obligation to show compassion to people 'facing the kind of despair we have never had to endure'. (Click cartoon to view)
The UN's Human Rights Committee has delivered severe rebukes over Australia's recent liberties and rights performance, particularly concerning abandoning some rights, excessive terrorist legislation, indigenous issues across the board - and even the use of stun guns. The Australian Government has one year to report on what it is doing to right the wrongs.
As New Zealand's former Prime Minister, Helen Clark, puts her hand up for a top UN job, how does NZ's record on human rights compare with Australia's, where a bill of rights consultation is just starting? A lawyer takes a closer look at our near-neighbour.
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