Three Hot’s and a Cot Isn’t Enough

It now seems three hot’s and cot isn’t enough for our latest illegal arrivals. 

The Daily Telegraph reports that the three top questions asked by asylum seeks was "when will I get a visa", "a house" or "access to the internet".

The Newspaper was the first media organisation to interview detainees in the nation's newest detention centre at Wickham Point in Darwin.

The $200 million taxpayer facility includes gyms, classrooms, sports pitches, pool tables, ping-pong and pool tables, barbecues, gardening plots, libraries, internet computers and a tuck shop.

Nice digs and we “wonder” why the boats keep on coming.

Almost 900 asylum seekers have arrived in December - with another boatload of 76 picked up yesterday.

The boat was the 130th since Prime Minister Julia Gillard took office last year.

And of course Labor would tell you that Tony Abbott is to blame for this mess.

"The government has consistently warned of the consequences of Tony Abbott blocking offshore processing," Mr Bowen said.

No Mr Bowen, the buck stops with you and the Prime Minister.

The reality is a nation that can’t secure its borders can’t secure its destiny or administer its laws.

Update 1:

An overcrowded boat suspected to be heading to Australia and carrying hundreds of asylum-seekers has sunk off Indonesia's main island of Java.

Reports have put the number of asylum-seekers on the boat at between 250 and 380, but only up to 76 had been rescued, Indonesian emergency chief Sahrul Arifin has been quoted as saying. Earlier reports said 33 had been rescued.

Update 2:

Former Labor leader Mark Latham has blamed "so-called compassionate" politicians who support onshore processing for the deaths of asylum-seekers at sea.

Responding on Sky News' Australian Agenda to reports that a wooden boat carrying more than 200 asylum-seekers has sunk off Indonesia, Mr Latham said “you can't have a good heart” when it comes to asylum-seeker policy.

“Let's be brutally honest about it, the boats sinking and families dying is a direct consequence of the so-called compassionate people who support onshore processing,” Mr Latham told the program.

“Onshore processing is a magnet for people to pay people-smugglers to get on boats that are unseaworthy and to effectively risk their lives on the high seas between Indonesia and Australia,” said the controversial former opposition leader.

Mr Latham attacked the Greens and Labor's Left faction for promoting onshore processing as being a more humane alternative to offshore processing.

“I just still find it an amazing disconnect between the way in which the Greens and the Labor Left talk about this issue and the way in which reality deals with it,” he said.

“You can't be compassionate and you can't have a good heart, you can't have a good soul, if you encourage people to get on boats that sink.

“And people just need to understand that the real compassionate policy is to stop the flow of the boats,” he said

Latham is right.

 

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Comments

[bluebell]

1.

["The government has consistently warned of the consequences of Tony Abbott blocking offshore processing," Mr Bowen said.]

Oh yes, let's blame Abbott instead of their precious Greens who REJECTED & BLOCKED the Malaysian solution as well. Hypocrites of the first order...

[ibbit]

2.

The buck will never stop with Bowen and Gillard. They're too dumb to know or admit the problem isn't Abbott's fault.

[Barry]

3.

Ahhh such intellectual talent we have in the highest office of the country at the moment.... more like a bunch of seagulls scrambling over a few chips.

Playing the blame game reminds me of schoolchildren fighting in the schoolyard.
Sadly , many in higher office have never "left" school, and have no idea of the talent it takes to survive in the "real" world.
Hence we have the lunacy we have at the moment.

I'm sure many would agree that this is doing sooooooooo much good for our country. Especially at this critical time when much of the world is attempting to sort through the mess the greed factor has placed it in.
And as we bounce from one stupid policy to the next , we have all the innocent people thrown around like pawns , and trying to survive in this maelstrom we have created.
Australia "could" be leading the world out of this mess.
Instead , it is choosing to dig it's own burrow in it , and reverting toward the 3rd world culture, that reflects the intellect of those pulling the strings.

One is supposed to "Learn" from the past , not gravitate toward it like a bunch of scared rabbits , frightened that the future, (beyond the scope of their "little" imaginations), could have the possibility to create a magnificent life for all on this planet .

After all, isn't life "meant" to be enjoyed???

To all those "Power" hungry peanuts........ is it "really " worth it for the few short years you inhabit this place????

[SignedIn]

4.

I wonder how irregular arrivals get here thinking such things are possible?
Could it be the people smugglers lie to them?
Or could it be they read rubbish like the hoax emails that ex-One Nation organisers spread, rather than the facts?

Note they are disappointed by the reality. It seems the government does not give them all that it is alleged they do.

[SignedIn]

5.

"The reality is a nation that can’t secure its borders can’t secure its destiny or administer its laws."

Our borders aren't secure? Really?
How many arrive without being detected? Ummmm .. could the answer be ZERO?
I don't see Australia being invaded - our borders actually seem quite secure.

[David Elson]

6.

Is that why they had to increase the refugee quota, too much demabd? seems real secure.

[liberal elitist]

7.

Can't believe these asylum seekers have the audacity to ask when they'll receive a visa! They should be glad we roll out the red carpet by locking them up in detention centers - surely it beats the conditions in whatever third world hellhole they come from. To ask when they'll be released from detention is truly an affront to our freedom-loving way of life.

[bluebell]

8.

Detected by arse - our boys are given advanced warning of any boats headed our way and then picked up and escorted to the nearest Australian facility. We ARE being invaded - because we no longer have the ability to stop them. Truth be known Labor doesn't want them to stop either....and we all know why too!

[Account Deleted]

9.

and yet NOT one comes from Africa.

[Account Deleted]

10.

Scumbag Husband Chops off Wife’s Fingers with a Machete as Punishment for Studying for a Degree

http://www.andysrant.com/2011/12/scumbag-husband-chops-off-wifes-fingers-with-a-machete-as-punishment-for-studying-for-a-degree.html

[liberal elitist]

11.

What difference does it make, Andy? A refugee is someone with a well-founded fear of persecution regardless of where they come from. For all your ranting about the evils of Islamism I thought you'd readily acknowledge that many governments in the Middle East are unable or unwilling to protect their citizens from persecution.

[bluebell]

12.

{For all your ranting about the evils of Islamism I thought you'd readily acknowledge that many governments in the Middle East are unable or unwilling to protect their citizens from persecution.}

Violent sectarianism within Islam is the main problem, especially with Sunni V Shiite....but it's not the only problem. There are well orchestrated campaigns against Christians and Jews, and just about any other minority that has the unfortunate luck to be living in a Muslim dominated country.

The boat people have many many Muslim lands from which to chose, but no, they prefer to come to Western countries where the going is easy and the welfare supplied. We have pensioners in this country who fought in WW2 and Korea - pensioners who cannot get decent health care, struggle to pay rapid cost of living, eek out an existence to make ends met. They didn't have the advantage of Superannuation. I personally know of two couples who are on waiting lists for cataract surgery, who have had their operations for serious conditions continuously postponed. So when I see boat people being given the red carpet treatment I see RED!

[liberal elitist]

13.

Do you support offshore processing of asylum seekers? It's horrendously expensive. We could save a lot of money for cataract surgery if we just processed them in the community. The cost of detention is much greater than the cost of providing asylum seekers with the same benefits all Australians are entitled to.

[Andy Semple]

14.

I support withdrawing from the UN convention for Refugeess as its no longer in our interests only the UN's.
Then we just deport them back to Indonesia/Malayisa.

And these "people" aren't persecuted. A persecuted person wouldn't be able to leave their country. These people freely fly into Indonesia or Malayisa and then get on a boat to push in as they know they would never get a visa.

[Andy Semple]

15.

I cross ocean, one way trip, paypeople smugglerone big tip . Green man, his name Bob Brown, he welcomes all of us to town. He big man in Government nowI think. He sends us off to Centrelink. Welfare say, You come no more, we send cash right to your door". Welfare cheques - they make you wealthy! Medicare - it keep you healthy! By and by, I get plenty money. Thanks to you, you Aussie dummy! Write to friends in motherland. Tell them 'come fast as you can.. " Before all is changed to Abbott plan They come in turbans and Toyota trucks, And buy big house with welfare bucks! They come here, we live together. More welfare cheques, it gets better! Fourteen families, they moving in, But neighbour patience wearing thin. Finally, Aussie guy moves away. Now I buy his house, then say, 'Find more immigrants for house to rent. " And in the yard I put a tent. Everything is very good, and soon we own the neighbourhood. We have hobby, it's called breeding. Welfare pay for baby feeding. Kids need dentist? Wives need pills? We get free! We got no bills! Australians crazy! They work all year, to keep the welfare running here. We think Australia darn goodplace. Too darn good for Aussie race! If they not like us, they can scram. Lots of space in Afghanistan!

[bluebell]

16.

I support Temporary protection visas - once their country is stable they can get shipped back home. We did it for the Kosovars - we can do it for the rest!

[bluebell]

17.

Comment #15 - exactly. But take a look at the bigger picture. The flood of Muslim boat people is being overseen by a socialist government. The same socialist governments that have allowed the flood of Muslims into the heart of the West - Europe, England and America and now us. It's a Trojan horse that will spell the end of Christian Europe and the West itself as the followers of Islam seek to replace the host culture - pure and simple.

[Anton]

18.

I support withdrawing from the UN convention for Refugeess as its no longer in our interests only the UN's.

I support withdrawing from the UN altogether. It would save us a bundle and remove the relevance of the Greens altogether. We could also stop wasting money on Kev747's career aspirations.

[Barry]

19.

First , you get rid of this rotten to the core government ,, then you might get some sense back into this country.
Socialism never has , and never will be anything but a scourge on Australia.
It has never worked at any previous time in history , and it never will.
All it does is drag a country backwards until the misguided fools get thrown out.
Then , once again , the new government has to rebuild the mess left behind. As both liberal governments are attempting to do in Victoria , and New South Wales.
And yet , we have blinded voters , who keep bringing them back.
As for the boat people!!
I don't see anything much more than a bunch of opportunists seeking a free ride.
But as with anything , offer handouts , and they'll come running from everywhere.
All for the sake of political power, and the greed for money .
Humans will never learn.

[Anton]

20.

The "offshore/onshore" debate is just a smokescreen to distract us from the real pull factor - unlimited welfare.

If we remove all welfare untitlements they can process the boat people in my back yard if they like, because there won't be any.

[Andy Semple]

21.

Spot on, Anton

[bluebell]

22.

Don't forget the Refugee Legal Assistance program that has a raft of Lawyers paid by us dumb schmucks to expedite and smooth their journey straight to Centrelink, Medicare, housing, free English lessons and job training. We have homeless aussies begging to be helped, homeless families and teens wanting assistance, but nah, we will roll out the red carpet for those that pushed their way in and use threats of self harm if they don't get their way.

[bluebell]

23.

The lawyers are costing us 5 million a year...

[Andy Semple]

24.

Gillard's role in asylum seeker deaths in Indonesia.

http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4028:gillards-role-in-asylum-seeker-deaths-in-indonesia&catid=97:breaking-news&Itemid=119

[Anton]

25.

What the hell, just sweep it under the carpet and talk about essential topics like gay marriage or the republic.

Maybe we can spend the entire next sitting of parliament on daylight saving or the national anthem. Who would be interested in the economy, national debt or missing border controls. When does the next season of big brother start?

[Arthur Dent]

26.

Andy, why the possessive apostrophe in "hot's"?

[SignedIn]

27.

"Scumbag Husband Chops off Wife’s Fingers with a Machete as Punishment for Studying for a Degree"

And the relevance of a scumbag in Bangladesh to asylum seekers in Australia is????
Or are you just flinging racist mud hoping it will stick?

[SignedIn]

28.

"And yet , we have blinded voters.."

Yes we do - voters who were suckered by Howard with the baby bonus and first home buyer grants, and they will punish any party who seeks to remove this largesse as they feel entitled to it.
You only have to look at the screaming of those households earning $150,000 plus with increases in family benefit payments frozen.

You might argue that these voters are deaf, dumb and blind.

[Barry]

29.

Simple , isn't it .
Or we can do as New Zealand does.... just say "no"

[Barry]

30.

And many , many young voters who have never experienced hard times, and have been blinded by the "Green " garbage that has been stealthily instilled in their brains (and still is being instilled in the children)from an early age.
You might want to dig up some stats comparing the few of those earning $150,000 to the myriad of of those that have been brainwashed with this rubbish.

[Justin]

31.

Based on this logic, then why don't we just move the whole middle eastern population to Australia!

[Anna O'Brien]

32.

Andy Semple:

1. I work with Asylum Seekers who arrive by boat. 80% of this group of asylum seekers are granted a Refugee Visa (a fact I learnt at a Department of Immigration and Citizenship training session) so your idea that these people "push in as they know they would never get a visa" is both unfounded and ignorant.

2. I'm sure that you would not survive a week if you had to make do on 85% of the Centrelink equivalent which is what Asylum seekers receive. Your idea that asylum seekers are buying up houses like capitalists is also both unfounded and ignorant.

3. Asylum seekers are not entitled to Medicare. Get your facts right before you start ranting in public. It makes you sound... dare I say it again? Ignorant.

4. Do the public a service and make an effort to learn the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee as well as the difference in what that means in regards to access to services & support before you make any more public statements. Ignorance may mean bliss for you- but it's certainly not much fun having to read the verbal diarrhoea that results from that.

[Jack Richards]

33.

Why should Australia be "willing" and "able" to look after the citizens of other countries when their own governments are "unable or unwilling"?

[bluebell]

34.

Whatever - We need to extract ourselves from the UN Refugee Convention. It's was set up following WW2 in response to the Holocaust. The world is a much different place since those events, and it also does not take into account economic refugees seeking a better life. Australia should give temporary protection visas for those fleeing persecution and review those protection visas every three years. Once the country of origin is stable they should be sent back. Getting tired of you bleeding heart loonies.....we can't even look after our own decently, and you want to bring in people who have never contributed to the country in any way shape or form. The freebie ride to life in Oz has got to stop before it causes serious social unrest. Take a GOOD look at France and England and you see what future awaits us if we continue down this path. I have elderly citizens up where I live that can't get their operations, can't get their cataracts fixed. They are being fobbed off, waiting waiting waiting...and these are people who went thru the depression, thru WW2 and worked their guts out for Australia. Your asylum seekers and refugees can go to ANY Muslim country they want - their are plenty of them. Indonesia is aiding and abetting their journey to Australia and EVERYONE knows it. I am fresh out of charity....if you want to help people in need, go and help those Australians who are a sight worse off than your precious boat people!!!!!!!!!

[Account Deleted]

35.

Anna,
Point 1: they fly into Jakarta or KL but they know they can’t fly into Australia as they won’t get a visa so they instead jump on a boat and push their way in. That’s the facts, Anna.
Read the article in today’s SMH.
"Why does Australia not close the border?," said Esmat Adine, a 24 year old Afghan. "Everyone is coming because the border is open. Everyone is going there and they are being accepted.
"If Australia does no want asylum seekers to come to Australia [by boat], it is a better way to close all the borders and then no-one will come."
Adine is right, we should close our borders.
Point 2: I never said they are buying up houses. I suggest you re-read the post. The Daily Telegraph reports that the three top questions asked by asylum seeks was "when will I get a visa", "a house" or "access to the internet".
Point 3: I never said anything about Medicare. Look who is the ignorant one.
Point 4: A refugee is a person who has fled from “some” danger especially political persecution like Rwanda. An asylum seeker is also a person who fear or persecution for reason of race, religion, or political opinion has crossed into a country in which he or she hopes to be grant refugee status. So they are one and the same.
So an Iranian who manages to fly into Jakarta isn’t a persecuted person as a persecuted person wouldn’t be able to get a flight in the first place. They are nothing more than economic opportunists who know we have piss weak border controls and are naturally taking advantage of the situation thanks to the soft border laws from ALP Green government.
It would seem the only deterrent is the fact that some may die risking the boat trip. But there is not deterrent by this government.

[bluebell]

36.

Here is a question for you - why are see seeing fit, hail and hearty young asylum seekers on Australian shores while our boys are dying on their behalf?? Questions that are being asked by some Aussie diggers themselves.

We see young single men from Afghanistan coming here allegedly as refugees and taking advantage of our hospitality while our boys are dying for them.Where is the sense or morality in that? They should all be shipped back there & made to fight their own battle.

[Anna O'Brien]

37.

Oh dear Andy, you have a lot to learn.

1. I say again, 80% of asylum seekers who arrive by boat are granted Refugee visas. I learnt this fact from the Department of Immigration themselves. They would not be granting Refugee visas to them if these people were not genuine refugees.

2. Extract taken from your poem- “They come in turbans and Toyota trucks, And buy big house with welfare bucks!”

3. Extract taken from your poem- “Medicare - it keep you healthy! By and by, I get plenty money. Thanks to you, you Aussie dummy! “ hmmmm…

4. I don’t even know what to say to this one! You are 100% completely and utterly incorrect.
The definition of a refugee as taken from the Refugee Convention is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country". Refugees have been found to “fit” into this definition and have already been granted Protection visas.

An asylum seeker is someone who has applied to a signatory of the Refugee Convention (i.e. Australia) to examine their case and determine if they are classified as a refugee or not. They do not have their Protection visa yet- they are being ‘processed’ to determine if they are refugees or not. Therefore, they do not get the same rights as refugees and are often held in Detention while their claim is being processed.

Again, I remind you that 80% of asylum seekers who arrive by boat are found to fit the definition of a refugee and are granted Protection visas.

FYI- a final point- the clients I work with did not go into Flight Centre and book a trip to Jakarta-they had to bribe people who work at airports in their country of origin and often use false passports in order to make it out of their country without being detected and killed. Just thought you should know…

[bluebell]

38.

http://www.borderchronicle.com.au/blogs/national-comment/you-call-this-evenhanded-refugee-series-is-strictly-for-the-gullible/2205893.aspx

[bluebell]

39.

["Why does Australia not close the border?," said Esmat Adine, a 24 year old Afghan. "Everyone is coming because the border is open. Everyone is going there and they are being accepted.

"If Australia does no want asylum seekers to come to Australia [by boat], it is a better way to close all the borders and then no-one will come."]

Exactly - and that is why contemptuous Gillard and her cronies should be held personally responsible for all the deaths on that boat.....they died simply because Labor refuses to close the borders and re-instate the Pacific Solution. All because of ideological bastardry!!

[Anna o'Brien]

40.

Bluebell, I don't agree with Australian people being involved in the violence in Afghanistan either. I agree that Australia should withdraw.
What I do not agree with is that young Afghani men should be forced to fight.
I value their lives just as much as I value the lives of Australian men.

[Andy Semple]

41.

Now they're "clients" . I wonder if the people smugglers use the same term?

I also suggest you look up refugee and asylum seeker in the dictionary.

Also satire is different from an opinion piece.

I get it Anna, your a bleeding heart do-gooder and your welcome to your wrong opinion.

[Andy Semple]

42.

You wouldn't last 5 minutes in Afghanistan.

[Andy Semple]

43.

Good post Bluebell.

From your link "Once they leave Malaysia, and then Indonesia, they become economic migrants. We need to send a tougher signal. People who are destroying documents, what are they trying to hide?"

Spot on.

[bluebell]

44.

OIC - It is ok for young Libyans, Syrians, Iranians and Egyptians to fight for the future of their countries, but not young Afghans. Or would you prefer the young men of those countries to flood into Australia too??

Get this through your lefty head:

FREEDOM DOES NOT COME FREE - IT IS PAID FOR BY THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD!

So when it comes to fighting for freedom inside their countries it is their MORAL duty to fight for it. Unlike our brain dead politicians we ordinary folk are fed up with sending our boys to do the job for them!

America is slowly waking up to itself - Obama can't get his troops out fast enough. If they won't fight for decent governance of their own countries they can become the UN's problem. We have had enough of the bullsh*t!

[Andy Semple]

45.

Tim Blair has a good post.

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/timblair/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/cared_to_death/

I wonder if Anna has read it

[Anna O'Brien]

46.

I used the word 'clients' to express the knowlege my 'clients' have shared with me. You can call them whatever you wish.
I don't need to use a dictionary to find out the definitions. I know them from the extensive training i've done.
No opinion is wrong. An opinion is subjective. Everyone is entitled to one. Facts however, can be wrong.
And in regards to me lasting in Afghanistan??? Where did you pull that from? I don't wish to go Afghanistan. Why would any one want to go? If it's not safe for the people fleeing, it's surely not safe for me.

[Anna O'Brien]

47.

My apologies. Re-reading that, I don't think I make myself clear. I don't mean to write facts can be wrong. What I meant to say is that the 'facts' spread throughout your opinion piece are wrong. You are misleading your readers when you defame asylum seekers in such a manner.

[bluebell]

48.

[Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young yesterday stood by her party’s policies. Pressed on whether the Greens accepted responsibility for the tragedy, Senator Hanson-Young said: "Of course not". ]

If ever a person needed hitting in the face with a cricket bat, it is this superior dopey bitch. Can't wait to have the smile swiped off her face when the Greens party gets hit for a six come election time.

[Andy Semple]

49.

So my hyperlinks are wrong are they?

Now I am "defaming asylum Seekers"

Your an odd one one aren't you Anna.

At least you use a "real" name unlike most leftards who comment here

[Anton]

50.

I know them from the extensive training i've done

Training is for dogs and fools.

Education is used to produce skilled adults. Skills such as research, logical analysis and even spelling.

Training is just propaganda, which is why you confuse an asylum seeker with AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT.

I loved this one of your's:
What I meant to say is that the 'facts' spread throughout your opinion piece are wrong

Wrong facts indeed

[Anton]

51.

If ever a person needed hitting in the face with a cricket bat, it is this superior dopey bitch. Can't wait to have the smile swiped off her face when the Greens party gets hit for a six come election time

Please tell me I can choose either

[Anton]

52.

FREEDOM DOES NOT COME FREE - IT IS PAID FOR BY THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD!

Thanks for saying it, an "inconvenient truth"?

But the freedoms we enjoy were paid for by the blood of others. Do people have a right to throw their freedoms away so willingly?

[Richo]

53.

I see Labor have tried to attack Abbott again today with a release of letters of correspondence. If they want his help, perhaps they should stop attacking him in the media, just a thought.

Abbott sums the issue up nicely with this statement

"I note that the Government has been willing to make any number of concessions to the Greens and Indepdents on matters before the Parliament to secure their support. this accommodation has even included the repudiation of election commitments"

http://images.smh.com.au/file/2011/12/20/2849933/Corro.pdf?rand=1324338106916

[Michael Webb]

54.

The mess is bi-partisan. United Nations treaties and conventions and allowing alleged refugees access to our courts- all these things are the root cause of our current problems.

People are also softened up by the 'mainstream' media who insinuate an alleged heartlessness onto ordinary working class Australians who, unlike the middle class, do not want these people turning up.

The asylum seeker sitaution is a scam and we need to tear up court appeals and remove ourselves from UN treaties through legislation now.

Enough is enough- Aussies in Sydney and Melbourne do not want their suburbs demographics changed in mini Middle Easts or mini Asia. On goody goodies in middle class 'burbs self-righteously chant for that.

[bluebell]

55.

David Cameron and Angela Merkel know only too well what unchecked Muslim immigration means for the entire West.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z3xsnEzA8Fw#!

[Barry]

56.

And yet She is still there.

What will it take for Australians to wake up ??