In sinking the people smugglers, Abbott is back on song

Terry Barnes thinks that Tony Abbott is back on the track to success with his recently announced asylum seeker policy.

Conservative politics is all about standing up for what works.  That’s exactly what Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison have done with their decisive response to the insidious and evil people-smuggling trade.

By reverting to the successful anti-people smuggling measures of the Howard years Mr Abbott and Mr Morrison are reverting unashamedly to what works.  The flood of boats that threatened to swamp us before 2001 was staunched only by decisive action by John Howard and Philip Ruddock.  Offshore processing, removing incentives to manipulate appeals to avoid or overturn final decisions, Temporary Protection Visas and tough direct action against those evil men who trade in the misery of others send a very clear message: Australia is no soft touch, no open door you can just ram your shonky way through to the cheers of the trendy inner-city latte sippers – many of whom treat refugees as curiosities to patronise in the same way that two centuries ago European salon society treated indigenous Australians.
 

What’s more, the Abbott policy improves on the Howard original by allowing reasonable flexibility in the actual length of TPVs to remain sensitive and compassionate in relation to conditions in the asylum-seekers’ home countries, and by imposing mutual obligation on asylum-seekers in return for welfare.  We do it for Australian residents seeking unemployment and other benefits: it’s fair and right to expect those wanting acceptance to our society to do the same.
 
Each new boat arrival, as well as the Oceanic Viking fiasco that fast-tracked through our system the unfortunate clients of the people-smugglers whom she rescued, shows that the Rudd Government has got it woefully and tragically wrong.  Each flimsy boat that struggles to stay afloat on the high seas, each person whose life is tragically threatened or lost from trying to reach our shores in those leaky sieves (or is that SIEVs?), is an avoidable black mark on our government and the misguided good intentions of the intellectual Left. 
 
There will always be some people uneasy with hard but humane policy decisions of this nature, within the Liberal Party as much as without.  Those who were expected to oppose it did come out and do so, and agree with them or not their views should be respected as being legitimately and sincerely-held on a pew in the Liberal broad church.  Indeed their concerns should ensure that the policy, as it’s applied by the next Coalition government, will always give humane regard to the unfortunate victims of the people-smugglers’ evil trade.  But it’s also clear that Mr Abbott, Mr Morrison and the shadow Cabinet respect the wish of middle Australia that, while our country should welcome and embrace our immigrants from wherever they come, queues are not for jumping.
 
For Coalition supporters, it was also pleasing to see Mr Abbott back on song, clearly having learned from the avoidable political reverses of the previous week.  He was confident, strong, decisive and self-assured.  He was not only looking and sounding like a leader but he was acting like one.  Like it or not, Mr Rudd, you’re up against a bloke who stands for something. What do you stand for, Prime Minister?

Terry Barnes is an editor of Menzies House.

Comments

[Ben]

1.

Excellent points Terry.

[Neal]

2.

Terry, Well presented and spot on.Our congratulations on this spot of "real journalism".It is a crime that the main stream mutts could not produce such an example. Neal

[Georgina]

3.

Yes, excellent points Terry. People should be very concerned at the number of illegal immigrants arriving in leaky, unsafe boats provided by people smugglers who couldn't care less about illegal immigrants. These immigrants have paid them enough (where did they get the money?) on the rhetoric that they will have a wonderful time in Australia and they will be well and truly looked after financially and in comfort.

I think it is much harsher for all those waiting for their turn to come thrugh the front door being held back by illegal immigrants, evidently nearly 6000 at the last count. Let those who think that Tony's policy is too harsh give these illegal immigrants accommodation and the wherewithall to learn Englsh and get them a job as did thousands of immigrants in the past who worked in fruit shops, butchers' shops, on the land, in the market gardens, etc. and who held to Australian values.

It is estimated that these illegal immigrants get a weekly allowance of $472.50, pluse spouse allowance of $472.50 and a hardship (??) allowance of $145, a total of $56,680 per annum. Not to mention accommodation, meals etc. Whereas aged pensioners who have paid taxes for 40/50 years are paid $253 per week, spouse allowance of $56 and no hardship allowance, totaling $16,068 per annum. If these figures are coorrect, which it is said are provided by the Australian Federal Government, it is a total disgrace.

There are thousands of Australian families who have lost their homes and are out on the street. The Salavation Army have stated (I think th figure was 80,000) more seeking help from them lately. Isn't this harsh and unfair??

[TerjeP]

4.

Another way to hurt the people smuggling business is take away the demand by providing a rival product. I think we ought to offer a paid migration visa for sale at a price of $30k that will allow many of those who have the resources to pay a people smuggler a legitamate alternate means of coming to Australia which honors our desire for due process. Such a visa would allow any foreigner who passes a basic medical check, has a clean criminal record, applies from abroad with full disclosure and who has the means and willingness to hand over $30k access to permenant Australia residency. Only those that really prize Australian residency would pay that amount and not only would it profit us through the fee, it would profit us by saving on detention costs for those that currently use an alternate private sector black market solution and it would profit us with residence that really value residency.

Perhpas there is little campaign mileage in such a visa but I think stemming the demand for people smuggling via a viable alternative is an initiative that should be seriously considered in terms of seeking a serious resolution to the problem. In essence it represents an economic solution to a social and political problem.

If such a policy proved so popular that immigration was too large we could reduce other immigration options (eg some of the dodgy education visas) or as a last resort by increasing the price.

Immigration tariffs are a novel idea but not new. It's worth a google if you have never considered the concept.

[TerjeP]

5.

Georgina - pretty much those figures were put to Tony Abbott by a caller to the Alan Jones radio show the other day. Tony Abbott said very clearly that the figures are not correct and are misinformation. We spend a lot on detention but we don't hand out $56k per person in welfare money.