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A fishing boat carrying Vietnamese asylum seekers near the shores of Australia's Christmas Island in April this year AP Photo

Australian Prime Minister: We are closed to boatpeople from today

“Australians have had enough of seeing people drowning in the waters to our north,” said Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER today announced that no more boatpeople will be resettled in Australia as refugees, with all unauthorised arrivals to be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea.

“From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee,” said Rudd, unveiling his new hardline border protection policy in an election year flanked by PNG counterpart Peter O’Neill.

Asylum-seekers arriving at Australia’s far-flung Christmas Island will be sent to the Manus Island processing centre on Papua New Guinea and elsewhere in the Pacific nation for assessment, with no cap on the number to be transferred.

Even if found to be “genuine refugees” Rudd said asylum-seekers would have “no chance” of settlement in Australia under the harsh new policy.

Those whose applications were not successful would be sent back home or to third countries.

The Regional Settlement Arrangement, which was signed by the two leaders on Friday, will initially be in effect for 12 months and reviewed annually. It will come into effect immediately.

The aim is to pose a strong disincentive for people considering the dangerous boat journey from Indonesia, particularly so-called “economic migrants” who make the trip not to flee persecution but for a better life in Australia.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has said that increasing numbers of asylum-seekers arriving by boat fall into this category, many from Sri Lanka and Iran.

Restrictions

Rudd’s new policy was announced as Indonesia agreed to tighten visa restrictions for visitors from Iran, who currently enjoy visa-free entry to the sprawling Southeast Asian nation and can then pay people-smugglers for passage to Australia.

It follows talks between Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta earlier this month, where they announced an agreement to promote greater regional cooperation on cross-border immigration.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

“The minister plans to sign a letter that will prevent Iranian citizens from being granted visas on arrival. But he has not done so yet,” Ministry of Justice and Human Rights communications chief Goncang Raharjo told AFP in Jakarta.

The hardline stance, among the strongest an Australian prime minister has taken on the divisive issue, is also designed to starve the lucrative people-smuggling networks that charge boatpeople thousands of dollars to make the hazardous trip.

“The hopes they offer their customers for the future are nothing but false hopes,” said Rudd, who added that he had spoken to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the plan.

Australia has struggled to stem an influx of asylum-seekers arriving by boat, with record numbers turning up in 2012 and more than 13,000 so far in 2013.

Deaths

Hundreds have drowned making the journey — as recently as Tuesday a boat sank, killing four people — and Canberra’s plans to send asylum-seekers to remote Pacific islands for processing has so far failed to stop the flood.

“Australians have had enough of seeing people drowning in the waters to our north,” said Rudd, who is facing national elections later this year with asylum-seekers a major policy issue.

Our country has had enough of people-smugglers exploiting asylum-seekers and seeing them drown on the high seas.

Australia currently sends boatpeople to Manus Island for processing only, along with Nauru in the Pacific, where current arrangements will continue.

In exchange for Papua New Guinea’s help, Australia will fund further aid initiatives including redeveloping a major hospital in Lae and assisting with its long-term management.

Australia will also contribute funds to reform the impoverished Pacific nation’s university sector and support other health, education and law and order initiatives, although no dollar figure was put on the aid.

- © AFP, 2013

Read: Australia defends decision to leave asylum-seekers’ bodies in Indian Ocean >

Read: Two dead as asylum-seeker boat carrying 95 capsizes >

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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:27 AM

    Cue the barrage of PC and do-gooder brigades whinging about rights and all that crap, I take my hat off to the Aussies, they know exactly how to deal with illegals entering the country.

    351
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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:20 AM

    You mention ‘ bragades whinging about rights and all that crap’ and yet your photo shows an Irish flag and a Celtic badge?

    For most people those images would recall issues of anti-catholic discrimination and prejudice, against which brigades of ‘PC dogooders’ ‘whinging about rights and all that crap’ actually achieved dignitiy and rights for those with whom you seek to associate yourself.

    Criticising nameless others who work hard to achieve a better future as ‘dogooders’ is just lazy.

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    Mute Gearóid Ó Murchadha
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:27 AM

    Yeah, its terrible the way some people are concerned about people’s rights.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:10 PM

    Tom- do you think we’d have a more progressive society without dogooders like:

    The Labour Movement
    Charities of all kinds
    Feminists
    Gay rights
    Republicans (French revolution sense)
    Environmental campaigners
    Civil rights campaigners
    etc.

    Newsflash for you Tom:

    Often times they are the same people because many of these issues are related. There are those who active try to change the world for the better and those that sit at the bar moaning about the state of the country.

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:49 PM

    They could just use their aircraft and bomb them right?

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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Jul 19th 2013, 3:16 PM

    do gooders were grand when there issues make sense and are viable like gay rights, civil rights etc etc but recently in ireland the immigrant council of ireland have become a ranting mouth piece blaming everything on racism and then when its found that immigrants are at fault hide behind the self righteous badge as soon as someone suggests we not open the doors to every immigrant and only allow ones that have a job and ability to look after themselves like the aussies we have the bandwagon brigade going crazy without even debating………and lets be clear my profile pic is to do with a football club and the irish association with it nothing else

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 4:00 PM

    The vast majority of Irish people who ever emigrated anywhere had low levels of skills and qualifications. They worked hard, a trait common to most people who leave their home in search of a better life.

    You seemed to have reduced your sweeping statement about dogooders to the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Can you mention specific cases that you object to their action?

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    Mute Ann-Marie Wallis
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:23 PM

    Haha brilliant Tom, your rants and the Celtic profile picture goes really well together. “And if you know your history…”, you’d obviously be aware of the deep discrimination and hatred of the marginalised Irish people in the west of Scotland, and how authorities wanted to send these emigrants back to Ireland. But hey, don’t let that interfere with the argument, just an interesting detail…

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Jul 20th 2013, 6:24 PM

    Tom. How hard is it to understand that seeking asylum is NOT ILLEGAL??

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    Mute Larry T Bird
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:29 AM

    Oh Mr Rudd, please come to Ireland.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:26 AM

    This move should help his reelection campaign greatly.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:03 AM

    So Australia doesn’t recognise the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR), which is essentially what this policy indicates. What’s new…look at how aboriginals are treated as second-class citizens there….

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    Mute Marguerite Hoiby
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:19 AM

    Any suggestions how to stop innocent people pay mega bucks to people smugglers, only to be put on essentially rafts with far too many drowning at sea. Looking forward to seeing your suggestions, anything to stop innocent people being ripped off and worse death. Only last week a baby drowned when one of these leaky “boats” sank. Has to be stopped, too many lives being lost.

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:41 PM

    John.. Australia is right to prevent this influx. As stated most are not fleeing persecution in their homelands and are just economic migrants abusing CRSR laws. They will be sent to papa new Guinea for processing, I’m sure in the event of a proven genuine case, they will deal with them on a case by case basis. Ireland should similarly adopt an approach like this. CRSR laws state that a refugee can only claim asylum in the first country they land or dock in. Ireland is never that country but we grant asylum like its going out of fashion. There are no direct flights to africa or any third world or developing middle eastern countries for instance so anyone claiming asylum could actually be sent back to London or paris or wherever for processing but this is over looked. We leave ourselves open to abuse. Strict immigration laws are needed and due process by applicationa visas should be mafe stricter.

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:51 PM

    @Marguerite Hoiby, see my comment about giving them the means to improve their lives by allowing them cheap power water and food.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:00 PM

    From the article…..
    “AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER today announced that no more boatpeople will be resettled in Australia as refugees, with all unauthorised arrivals to be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea. Even if found to be “genuine refugees” Rudd said asylum-seekers would have “no chance” of settlement in Australia under the harsh new policy.”
    This is a clear breach of the terms of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR).
    Australia has never treated its asylum seekers in a humanitarian fashion, irrespective of how they arrive in that country.

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:14 PM

    Ok I stand corrected, however, I still stand by the rest of what I say. Australia has the right to protect itself from thousands of refugees. I totally agree with their strong deterrent regardless if they break international law.

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    Mute Jason Healy
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:37 PM

    That law is already there but not enforced. Airlines and ferry company’s have an obligation to check each passengers visa or passport but sadly they did not

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    Mute Brian O Cinneide
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:21 PM

    He is to send them to your relative Peter O’Neill, John..

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:28 PM

    Still as witty as ever I see Brian…

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    Mute Alan Grouse
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:54 PM

    @ John O’Neill

    To my knowledge Australia signed the convention in 1951, the world has changed considerably since then. The convention needs to be modernised.

    The aborigine argument is old. 2nd class citizens? They are entitled to a whole range of benefits, from centrelink welfare payments, to free housing, healthcare and subsidised medication. They can claim royalties from industries, payments if they live in remote areas, have easy access to higher education courses and even get paid a study wage.

    No right minded individual would deny the fact that they were treated inhumanely but great efforts have been made in seeking forgiveness and attempting to build a better future for the indigenous population

    Get over your hatred of Oz

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    Mute Marguerite Hoiby
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    Jul 19th 2013, 3:37 PM

    Well and correctly written, thank you.
    Although, you wonder if such generous welfare is why they for the most part have such terrible social problems.
    Maybe, we are killing them with kindness?

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    Mute Marguerite Hoiby
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    Jul 19th 2013, 3:57 PM

    Check out the Mabo treaty?

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    Mute Jim Flavin
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    Jul 19th 2013, 4:58 PM

    so – its ok for tens of thousands of Irish to go to Australia – but not for the boat people to seek refuge there – despite the fact that in doing so Australia is breaking International law – but I see from your other post that u have no time for international law anyway .
    how may Illegal Irish are in USA ??.
    Its ok for Irish to land on other countries – but not for others to land on ours – or Australia !!.

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    Mute guardian
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:06 PM

    Send class citizens? ?? There are same as travellers here get everything handed to them and don’t want to better themselves. Australians bend over backwards for them.

    Change the record. Must be awful burden to have chip on your shoulder about everything and be right about nothing

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    Mute Squig Dublin
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:25 PM

    The tens of thousands of Irish who have arrived in Auz have arrived there with visas, I would imagine. For those illegal Irish immigrants in the USA , it is not alright and they should seek legal status

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    Mute cholly appleseed
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    Jul 19th 2013, 7:04 PM

    Jim, yes it’s perfectly fine for thousands of irish to go to australua because they go legally by applying for visas which requires among other things a police clearence to prove your of good character. The people arriving on boats illegally could be fleeing their home country for any reason e.g after committing a serious crime or worse still be a registered sex offender etc.. the aus government also has a duty to protect its citizens from internal and external threats. As for the illegal irish in the usa, its different because they are not applying for asylum. While illegal, they are not benefiting from the us tax payers. A refugee, at the cost to the tax payer will be housed, fed, clothed, their children will be educated and adults offered higher education and on top of this they are given weekly welfare (granted its not very much, in ireland around 17e per week but everything else is paid for them). I have no problem with the costs associated with asylum and the granting of it but only if its genuine. The burden of proof presently lies with the government, a person can claim asylum and has to offer no proof of the reason, it is then onto the government to prove that they are or are not in risk if deported. This in itself costs millions. The burden of proof should be switched so that an asylum seeker must prove beyond all reasonable doubt that their life would be in danger etc if deported. The present system is open to abuse.

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    Mute Oliver Mueller
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    Jul 19th 2013, 7:45 PM

    If you start to apply this argument to every battle, war and argument, we could redraw the map on daily basis.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 20th 2013, 12:39 AM

    There’s still war, there’s still oppression, especially in Iran, where many of these asylum seekers are from, and there are still refugees. There’s still a need for the convention and it behoves every signatory to the convention to abide by its terms.
    Australia is breaching the convention with these new regulations, plain and simple.
    To point out deficiencies in a country’s policies doesn’t automatically make one a hater of that country…

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    Mute Sean Linda Conlon
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    Jul 20th 2013, 12:41 AM

    Cholly it’s not illegal to enter Australia, or any other country, without permission and claim asylum. You also are misrepresenting the cost of asylum seekers by characterizing it as an additional burden to Australian tax payers. Australia funds all of the costs of asylum seekers out of their foreign aid budget, so if asylum seekers stopped coming that money would be diverted back to Asia where they spend most of their foreign aid.

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    Mute marmar
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:36 AM

    Australia belongs to the aboriginal people he’d do we’ll to remember that?

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    Mute Alan Grouse
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:38 AM

    He did apologies to them only a few years ago and aboriginies are entitled to some fantastic benefits today

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    Mute Michelle Philpot
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:47 AM

    “Oh I’m so sorry for robbing and looting your land, displacing you and treating you like sub-humans”

    Yeah, all’s dandy now :)

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    Mute Alan Grouse
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:53 AM

    Its a start! At least the wrongs have been acknowledged and a great deal done throughout soceity and within education in recognising the wrongs of the past

    There comes a point in time where the people of today cannot be held responsible for the wrongs perpetrated by those of centuries ago

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:23 PM

    @Alan I agree with that sentiment, we all have to stop blaming the nations of today for what was done long ago. Are we expected to blame the Scandinavians for what the Vikings did to us? No, the idea would be ridiculous yet many have no problem continuing to blame our neighbor.
    That said we have to face reality, our country cannot support itself right now and should have a very selective immigration policy. Throwing the doors wide open is just asking for trouble, how can we be then surprised when it arrives?
    If we continually refuse to honestly acknowledge what’s in front of us for much longer we won’t be able to do anything about it soon. Economic migration is one thing, the Australians are seeing it, every country sees it to one degree or another, but when those migrants take the trouble to travel across Europe, through the wealthiest countries, with the best to offer, to come to a small island on the far West of Europe in the middle of its worst recession you have to ask why. Why would they ignore the best Europe has to offer to come to Ireland, unless we offer more.

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    Mute Alan Grouse
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:07 PM

    @ and i yours Jedi.

    A countries borders MUST be maintained.

    Im all for helping those in need and personally i would rather see the countless number of people languishing in refugee camps be given an opportunity rather than those spending the money and fuelling an inhumane trade. Most ‘asylum seekers’ bypass all or alot of Asia, land in the Philippines and only then move onto Australia. If it is safety they seek then why continue to Oz? Many are economic migrants and i think its unfair they be given preference over others. Buying a ticket and braving a journey – no matter how dangerous it is should not enable you to jump the line. A tough stance and refusal to allow entry is necessary to rip away the one promise people smugglers have.

    Unenforced migration is extremely dangerous. It must be tightly controlled and those allowed to reside supported and made to integrate as best they can, learning the language and the culture to ensure they will contribute to society and they and their families prosper. Parts of Europe and Scandinavia are just some examples of the policy failing, Australia would do well to heed this warning

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    Mute Tim Stephen Hendy
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:03 PM

    no it doesn’t.

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:45 PM

    @Tim Stephen Hendy Could you maybe expand a little on that?
    There is a very big difference between what we see on TV when we’re shown starving famine victims barely cling to life. If you’re old enough to remember the Ethiopia famine that prompted the world into action in the early 80′s those people could not have travelled across continents, even if they’d know where Ireland was, or cared. Their only concern was to get some food and water. In cases like that its a matter of survival.
    What we’re talking about are people who clearly know where they want to go, they know enough to ignore the wealthiest countries in Europe to travel to a tiny island on it’s farthest Western edge in the middle of the worst recession in it’s history. The come here with a purpose and do so for a reason. When gardai arrested Nigerian criminals here they managed to get their mobile phones before they could be destroyed, a text message sent back to associates in Nigeria read, “Come to Ireland, it is a virgin country. There is money to be made here”.
    Earlier this year Lithuanian gangster Gintaras Zelvys from Rathcoole, Co Dublin was murdered, but he was already a well known criminal figure here. He had been released from prison a year previously after serving a seven-year term for extorting money from innocent Lithuanians in Monaghan and other counties. He was also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment in 2008 for assaulting a female garda in north inner Dublin. Before coming here, he had escaped from prison in Lithuania where he was serving a jail term for rape. He also ran a lucrative trade in smuggling mobile phones and other contraband into Portlaoise Prison. At the time of his imprisonment in 2007, he was living in Celbridge in Co Kildare and driving an €85,000 Mercedes CLS. What a nice man, but he wasn’t unusual.
    Now an argument is often made that Irish people emigrate too, yes they do. But try getting into America, Canada or Australia without the proper documentation or a criminal record, try getting into any or those countries if you escaped from prison while serving a rape sentence or if you don’t have sufficient funds to support yourself or a job to go to. If you then stay illegally and get caught in those countries do you think you’ll be given what you are here and allowed stay for years while you appeal deportation? You’ll be on the next plane out of there. But here the gardai know many of these folks delay for as long as possible, leave of their own accord then come back again within a year or so with a new identity and it starts all over again.
    If you’re happy sending €300m Social Welfare payments to foreign addresses each year and sitting back with the doors of the country wide open, that’s fine keep doing nothing. For everyone else who object to this we’ll put pressure on our elected elite and who knows, maybe some of them will listen and have the backbone to do something. Then you can say you agreed all along.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:42 PM

    1. Do you have a source for that text message that you referenced?
    2. Regarding your ganster story. You are aware that Lithuania is part of the EU and therefore he had a right to travel to Ireland. All this story shows is that not all immigrants are nice. This is not news. They should be prosecuted in the same way as locals- end of.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:45 PM

    3. Do you know that the single greatest source of income in Ireland in the 19th century were remittances from the Irish in the UK and US. It’s the same story- the same motives. The vast majority of Irish emigrants were economic.
    4. The doors of the country are not wide open- stop trying to create a sense of panic.

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    Mute Tim Stephen Hendy
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:51 PM

    Jed, the ‘no it doesn’t’ is a reply to the assertion Australia belongs to aboriginals, as if it were even a relevant point in the first place.

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    Mute Jed I. Knight
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    Jul 19th 2013, 7:42 PM

    @PaoloFreire With reference to the text message this was first reported in an article in the Irish Independent on May 12 2013 by Jim Cusack.
    My point was not whether someone is or isn’t free to travel, although I doubt someone who escapes from prison while serving a rape sentence is free to cross international borders and is free to travel. As I said he record, both before coming her, and since he came here indicates he did not come here for any other reason but to exploit. Had there been better immigration control such people may be intercepted at our borders.
    This is a discussion concerning the 21st century not the 19th century. But seeing as you opened the door, Nigerians immigrants here are sending back almost half a billion euro per year, an average of more than €26,000 for each of the 17,642 Nigerian nationals in Ireland, including children. Monies sent from Ireland by foreign migrants are three times higher than the amount of money being sent home to Ireland by the Irish abroad. (Irish Independent 19th May 2013 Jerome Reilly and World Bank figures)
    The doors of our country are, more or less, wide open, we have no immigration policy to speak of. As I said compare entering Ireland with America, Canada or Australia, take a look at the criminal records of those entering our country. Time and again we see people up in court here and, shock horror, they have long criminal records in their country of origin.

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    Mute Jim Flavin
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    Jul 20th 2013, 11:45 AM

    A great deal has not been done . aborigines are still being robbed of their land for mining etc – .
    read this article by John Pilger of some weeks ago – he is Australian BTW

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/28/australia-boom-aboriginal-story-despair

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    Mute sean
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:31 AM

    good move
    Ireland should be stopping all non eu nationals coming in , because economically , at the moment we simply can’t afford them.

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:32 PM

    Yes. Those damned Americans with their stupid money.

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    Mute sean
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:27 PM

    i’m not talking about tourist.
    more the dole merchants

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    Mute Shahbaz Ch
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:33 PM

    Ur problem is not non eu ur problem is eastern people but u can say any thing cause no one listen u eastern European is more than non eu so get right figure and stop complaining ……. Complain box….

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:05 PM

    Send them over here Rudd.
    Our useless government would take in anyone.
    Here I’ll give you the Irish immigration policy for Pre-Clearance.
    You must breathe air.
    You must be alive (although Passports from dead people are accepted).
    You must not speak English.
    You must have no trade or qualification.
    You must have a large family of (non working) non English speaking dependents.
    You must be willing to accept a free house to live in.
    You must be prepared to trash the house from time to time and demand a new house.
    You must be willing to accept all shapes and forms of free stuff and allowances.
    You must be prepared to get paid indefinitely for not working.
    You must be prepared to make no attempt to speak English indefinitely (the ability to communicate is futile).
    Applicants whose first port of call is NOT Ireland are preferable.
    Applicants whose first port of call is at least 5000 miles away, are even more preferable.
    A criminal record or a history in illegal drug trading/production would be preferable.
    Get in touch Mr Rudd.
    And the Irish government will send over the government Jet to pick them up.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:06 PM

    Only speaking from 1st hand experience.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:13 PM

    This is so ridiculous it doesn’t deserve a detailed response.

    Poor foreigners are easy targets Harry.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:47 PM

    Just to be clear Paulo.
    My comment is from first hand experience.
    and my comment is not directed at foreign people.
    It is to point out the ineptness of our own Irish government.

    Over 80,000 young highly qualified young Irish people emigrated last year.
    Over 50,000 people immigrated into Ireland last year.
    So if the Irish government discriminate against anyone,
    it is obviously their own young people.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:51 PM

    I have worked/done business overseas on numerous occasions in my lifetime.

    And in all the countries that I worked in there was one common thing that I did notice.
    and that was
    “If I didn’t work I didn’t get paid anything”

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:11 PM

    “Personal experience” my ass.
    You don’t even realise that asylum seekers here are NOT ALLOWED to work while their application is being processed. Processing takes up to six years during which they will be deported if found to be working.
    You’re implying that there is no such thing as a genuine asylum seeker.
    There is.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:31 PM

    Yes John.
    In fact I personally know one family of asylum seekers with 3 kids living in a brand new house to their requirements, and a nice car.
    None of them work.
    They want for nothing.
    2 of the fathers siblings have families and live in similar situations throughout Ireland.

    There home country is 8000-10,000 miles away, with no direct flights to Ireland.

    Isn’t Ireland a great country that can afford that John?

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:22 PM

    Harry

    Asylum seekers are not allowed to work in Ireland, so you have no basis on which to make sweeping statements about their contribution to society.

    Can you give us your sources on the 50,000 immigrants. I’m not saying your wrong, i’d just like to have a look at the figures e.g. were they foreign born (potentially of Irish parents) or were specicialist workers who filled a need in the labour market or were they students etc…

    The emigration levels are a disgrace. You don’t need to tell me. I’ve already left and economic challenges was about 50% of the rationale in moving. Your comments about first hand experiences are a bit odd though if you’re referring to applicants being preferred if they’ve landed somewhere else first etc.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:33 PM

    So you think you know of “one” family of asylum seekers….
    How do you know their exact circumstances? Are they friends?
    By the way, genuine asylum seekers frequently have their own financial resources.
    If you are aware of “asylum” seekers breaching the conditions under which they await assessment of their application, you should immediately report it to the proper authorities…
    Or have you already?
    I detest idle gossip by the way.

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    Mute Shahbaz Ch
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:41 PM

    Harry sound like ur talking about those people who grow drugs on daily basis cause I never heard that they are out side from Ireland…..

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:23 PM

    In good time and bad Australia lets in approx. one hundred thousand immigrants per year.
    A country with 20 million people and a land mass bigger than Europe.
    They look for highly qualified, hard working, professionals, that are fluent in English, with their own funds.
    These immigrants are given a sense of privilege and achievement when they have been accepted.
    This type of selective immigration adds value to a country and its economy.
    How does this compare to our immigration system?

    Not to mention that the Australian immigration authorities make you take a full medical and HIV test with a doctor, from their panel.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:36 PM

    Yes John they are my friends.
    And they are not breaking the law, they are just freely accepting what is given to them from the over generous PC Irish welfare system.

    It’s funny though
    many Irish people I know
    that were born and bred in Ireland
    and worked hard all their lives in businesses and in jobs in this country
    and paid their mortgages and taxes through thick and thin
    have fallen down on their luck in recent times
    but it seems when they go into the local dole office cap in hand
    they have been shooed away like lepers.
    The generous Irish welfare system does not seem to be as available for the native Irish People.

    http://www.thejournal.ie/visa-immigration-ireland-2012-737991-Jan2013/?com_ord=date#comments

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:44 PM

    Why don’t the IMF the Un and Co force The US and The UK to take in these asylum seekers?

    Is it not the US and the UK who generally pillage these developing countries?

    I dont ever remember an occurrence when Ireland invaded or colonized another country?

    What do we owe them?

    Should the billion dollar arms and oil industry not be picking up the tab for their destruction?

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    Mute Suzanne O'Malley
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    Jul 19th 2013, 7:03 PM

    do you have to give a negative comment on every statement,refuges bleed a country dry,end of.

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    Mute GatheringYourMoney
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:56 PM

    We must not avoid the facts for fear of being negative.
    Prepare for bad days ahead and you’ll only ever have good days.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 20th 2013, 12:48 AM

    Blame the immigrant for all social ills…now who operated that policy back in the 1930s and 40s.
    Frankly Harry I don’t believe that immigrant family are your friends. If they are you must be a real two-faced hypocrite with them…

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 20th 2013, 12:51 AM

    What a stupid, sweeping statement…

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 20th 2013, 11:05 AM

    Please point out exactly where I “blame the Immigrant for all social ills” John.
    My comments are directed at our loose immigration laws and legislation.

    Australia is basically a underpopulated desert in the middle of nowhere
    Yet people feel extremely privileged when the are accepted in there as residents.

    Australia is positioned in asia beside literally billions of potential asylum seekers
    they have one of the biggest coastlines on the planet to police
    Yet they get their immigration right.

    Ireland is a fantastic country in comparison to Australia.
    Answer me this John why we seem to accept just anyone as an immigrant when compared to Australia?
    I say this as someone who has achieved permanent residency in Australia.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Jul 20th 2013, 11:55 AM

    Sorry Typo
    Answer me this John why do we seem to accept just anyone as an immigrant when compared to Australia?

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 20th 2013, 3:02 PM

    Simple answer Harry…We don’t…check the statistics…
    http://www.ger-can.net/html/spirasiwebsite/partofirelandnow.html
    I recommend this link to anyone who wants clarity with regard this alleged open-door policy regarding immigrants in Ireland.

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    Mute Jennifer Hislop
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:47 AM

    My daughter attends school in Australia. The class she is in is diverse. Nobody could claim Australia has a whites only policy. They value hard work and expect you to contribute to their country. They give people an opportunity and its up to you to make the most of it. I’m not speaking about asylum seekers here, I’m just addressing the whites only immigration policy some people are referring to. I found that migrants are judge by the level of work and societal contribution rather than skin colour. Obviously there are racists here, but in general Australia is a welcoming diverse country with opportunities and I hope they protect that. It took me 7 years to get here, I don’t want all that hard work t go to waste. I want to be protected by the laws I had to adhere to in order to get here.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:06 AM

    I’ve just lost all respect for him.

    When Rudd became PM the first time he apologised for the Stolen Generation and signed the Kyoto Protocol within days of gaining office.

    This however is just desperate populism. This is not about saving lives, it’s about building an economic fortress.

    Did anyone see Simon Reeves Australia a few weeks ago when he visited a detention centre. The levels of self-harm, suicide and people sewing their lips together to protest at the lack of a voice were shocking.

    Australian foreign policy in the region makes this even more disgraceful. They have been puppets of the US for decades and sent troops to Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan etc and trained Indonesian armed forces during the occupation and rape of East Timor. They have destabilised various countries in the region and then hide from some of the consequences e.g. displaced persons.

    This policy is not popular amongst all Ozzies. A nun, Kat O’Connor organised a sanctuary network in the late 90′s and 1000′s of people signed up to protect East Timorese from deportation.

    Australia is a huge, resource-rich, sparcely populated continent. It can easily take more people. This is about keeping it ‘white’ and populism- nothing else.

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    Mute al shamen
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:05 PM

    The Vietnam war ended over 40 years ago,Korea even longer back(what is you’re problem with Australia’s involvement in the Korean war btw?),do you really believe Afghanistan was some sort of paradise on earth before Australian troops arrived there?
    The refugees from Iran and Afghanistan, could seek asylum in democratic Islamic countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia,the reason they don’t is because most of them are economic migrants.

    I have lived and worked with non-white Koreans Bangladeshi’s and Nepalese in Australia who have applied for and received residency and citizenship through the proper channels,you’re last sentence about ‘keeping it white’ is a baseless slur.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:29 PM

    The Korean war reference was simply a point of information in case people didn’t know that Australia was militarily active in the area since the 50s.

    The affects and effects of the Vietnam War are still to be felt there and so there is a direct connection there.

    I never said that Afghanistan was a paradise on earth before the invasion, I just sought to point out the irony of turning away people from a country that you have destabilised.

    My white comment refers to the legal immigration system- it’s easier to get a visa if you speak English (and most English speakers are white). It’s a systemic advantage for European/ American anglophones. I didn’t say it was all white- I lived there for a year and worked with many nationalities too.

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    Mute al shamen
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    Jul 19th 2013, 4:21 PM

    The effects of a lot of wars from long ago are still being felt today,I’m not sure what you’re point is as Australia took in over 90,000 Vietnamese refugees after the war.

    So Afghanistan was a stable country pre 9/11?You do know there was a civil war going on there at the time don’t you?And as I said already,why don’t Afghan refugees seek asylum in Malaysia or Indonesia,Islamic democracies which are a lot closer than Australia.

    Like it or not Australia is an English speaking country why should they drop sensible language requirements that promote integration and social cohesiveness.Any country with a logical immigration policy would have similar requirements.

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    Mute Tim Stephen Hendy
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:07 PM

    “It can easily take more people”, well, so can your house. It doesn’t mean more people should be there, does it? Australia is vulnerable precisely because it’s so large and underpopulated, to massive migrations. How would that be a good thing?

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    Mute al shamen
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:19 PM

    Australia looks big on a map but the fact is the habitable areas are confined to narrow strips along it’s coasts ,most of the interior is inhospitable desert and access to water is becoming a bigger issue.

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    Mute Tim Stephen Hendy
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:31 PM

    al, such trivialities don’t concern the “ah shur there’s loads of room there” brigade, who’d object to Travellers living anywhere near them but are fine telling faraway countries to settle thousands of illegal immigrants.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:37 PM

    I never said that Afghanistan was stable before the war, though, as I understood it, the civil war proper ended in 1998. I said that it was destabilised, ie made less stable. Australia has a greater responsibility to these people as a result.

    Re Vietnam, I think that the ongoing impact of the war leads to a moral resposibility on Australia. When I went to Vietnam in 2000 large sections of the country were still deforested due to agent orange and birth defects were still visible due to the same chemical. One boy that I met in a Christina Noble Foundation hospital had what looked like fish scales instead of skin, which constantly itched (all over). Another boy that I saw had legs facing the wrong way below his hips. These are just a few anecdotes- the impact continues and thus so does the responsibility in my view. Is that clearer for you?

    Australia had over a thousand troops there, Malaysia had only 2, whilst I don’t think there were any Indonesians. Interesting that you didn’t pick up on the East Timor example.

    Regarding language- I’m not aware of any EU countries that restrict immigration based on language skills to other EU member states, so why is it a prerequisite there? Couldn’t they learn it after they arrived?

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:49 PM

    If someone lands in your country and seeks asylum they are not illegal under international law. They are only ‘illegal’ if they enter the country secretly and don’t apply for asylum or stay after a refused application. So there are no 1000s of illegals as such.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 6:52 PM

    I know that. I lived there for a year drove through the deserts that you mention and met the East Timorese asylum seekers that I mentioned…

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    Mute al shamen
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    Jul 19th 2013, 8:14 PM

    Australia has already donated vast sums of aid money to Afghanistan so they are meeting their responsibilities,unless you mean they should throw open their borders to any Afghan who wishes to settle there.
    The majority of asylum seekers who arrive on boats come from Afghanistan and Iran.You’re East Timor example is irrelevant since they won their independence in 02.

    Re. Vietnam.All shocking examples you listed and I would be of the opinion Australia should pay reparations if it has not done so already,but how is it relevant to Aussie immigration policy?

    E.U. immigration policy has been a disaster as evidenced by ethnic ghettos and the rise of the far Right across much of Europe,Australia and Canada for that matter are very wise not to imitate it.

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    Mute Alan Grouse
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    Jul 20th 2013, 7:26 AM

    @ Paolo

    Get over the language issue and learn to live with it – Australia is an english speaking country. If you want to live and work here you should be able to speak to language. ”Couldn’t they learn it after they arrived?” No because having a decent grasp of the language is necessary in order to be able to fit into the community. Australians do not want enclaves or people being left on the fringes of communities, we want a diverse society made up of people from all walks of life and backgrounds but who all have a common language. No one is being asked to abandon their history language or culture, merely to adapt to standards already in place here.

    My wife is Spanish and for her to have her teaching degree and other qualifications recognised in Australia all need to be translated and she has to sit a course and exam proving she can both speak and understand the language to a sufficient level. The whole process is extremely time consuming and expensive but it is 100% correct and i support it completely. It was her choice to move here so she knows its her responsibility to learn the language. No complaints from her either

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    Mute Hammer Head
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:25 PM

    If we took this approach in Ireland, can you imagine the uproar?

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    Mute RP McMurphy
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:53 AM

    Mr. Rudd must have same spin doc our lads have….he’s worried about the deaths of the migrants en route to Oz?!? Certainly, control the in-flow, but spare the bs and faux concern!

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    Mute B7584
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:53 PM

    Well done Mr.Rudd, if only others had your incredible balls in dealing with this sort of thing.
    Australia for Australians, FIRST.
    Same should apply in every country.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:16 PM

    Absurd, stupidest comment of the week there B7584…Real Australians aren’t white, they’re Aboriginal and black.

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    Mute John F
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Australia for Aborigines first maybe?

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    Mute B7584
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:21 PM

    Who mentioned colour?

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:30 PM

    So when you said, ” Australia for Australians First” you really meant “Australia for FIRST Australians”…
    Either way it has racist undertones…

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    Mute B7584
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:48 PM

    Ok, you take whatever undertones you want from it but i & most people who read my comment will know what i mean.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:36 PM

    Perhaps you could explain it to me though as I don’t understand exactly what you mean.
    Do you feel that Irish people shouldn’t be allowed live, work or own property in Australia? If so that’s very racist of you…

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    Mute B7584
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:41 PM

    Jesus youre mad for the race/colour card. You are the only one whos mentioned it.
    Anyone can live, work or own property in any country once you tick all the boxes in terms of the countries regulations. Its not racist, its common sense. Chill, its friday & its a fine fine day.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:48 PM

    Enjoy the day..

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:49 PM

    Don’t go too dark though….you never know…

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    Mute B7584
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    Jul 19th 2013, 3:24 PM

    :D no bother john! Enjoy the weekend!

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    Mute Alan Grouse
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:44 AM

    No word on what it will cost the tax payer. It was Rudd himself who dismantled Howard’s very effective asylum seeker policy. This agreement will be reviewed in one year where if the government dont go back on thier word again and scrap it the papans could hold them – and the aussie tax payer over a barrell in raising their demands

    Rudd helped create the mess today, im sceptical he has the answers to fix it.. One can hope though, no more people should be drowning at sea in the hope of reaching oz

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    Mute The Walking Dude
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:52 AM

    Another way around the whites only immigration policy.

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    Mute Ger O'Brien
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:36 AM

    Good old Aussies at it again. They’ve some history of prejudice against non-white nationalities.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:45 PM

    I think I’ve finally gotten the Irish logic on this whole emigration/immigration thing…
    Correct me if I’m wrong…
    All Irish economic emigration right…
    All non-Irish economic emigration wrong….

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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:16 PM

    Have these people something against Ireland? Surely we are their first port! Surely Ryanair fly direct to Christmas island!

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    Mute Bill66
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:54 AM

    Ironic Rudd being an irish name

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    Mute Larry T Bird
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:04 AM

    Why is it ironic ?

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:12 AM

    I think Bill means that many Irish people arrived as ‘boat people’..

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    Mute Robin Pickering
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:36 PM

    Arrived where as boat people?

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    Mute sean fitzgearld
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    Jul 19th 2013, 9:14 PM

    How do you tjink the rudds got to aussie in the 1800 ‘s by plane they were either convicts or emigrants.

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 19th 2013, 10:56 AM

    The solution to poverty in most of the poorer countries is cheap power but the ecoloons are standing in the way of progress by blocking the building of power stations by putting pressure on wealthy governments not to help out. Just as they block GM foods which would feed the hungry.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:10 AM

    Which countries? Which power stations? Which ‘ecoloons’?

    GM is not the only way to increase yeilds- hortilcultural techniques have always improved the size and quality of products, as have fertilisers etc.

    The solution to poverty is not just ‘cheap power’; it is also education, health care, fair trade, reversing climate change, debt ‘relief’, perhaps reorganising colonially imposed borders etc.

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:25 AM

    Cheap power brings education, medical progress, manufacturing possibilities refridgeration to stop food waste and food poisoning. Pumping water is another way in which cheap power brings benefits, no point in having schools if the kids are half dead from thirst. Then there’s desalination plants which need cheap power.
    On the other hand they Vietnamese on that boat above could do basket weaving or knit yoghurt or other nice eco-friendly things while they starve.
    The US Export-Import Bank board of directors voted on Thursday not to proceed with the financing of US exports to help build a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam, following a plea from US environmental groups to stop the project.

    The Ex-Im Bank board decision was made after a “careful environmental review” of the 1,200-megawatt Thai Binh Two power plant, according to a statement from the Ex-Im Bank, citing a bank official.

    Only a few ecoloons still cling on to the warming/ climate change scam BTW.

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    Mute James J Mac Kenna
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    Jul 19th 2013, 2:37 PM

    Now that’s what I call protecting your borders.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 11:58 AM

    Your fixation on cheap power is a bit odd Morticia but at least you have more detailed comments here.

    Village pumps which are man-powered suffice in the short term where limited funds exist for other important projets. There may be an advantage to them also as electric pumps might work too fast and lower the water table.

    With regard to education, little electricity is needed in the short term and could be supplied in most cases by solar power. Other issues are more important such as teacher training, resources and access for the kids. Man-powered pumps would assist in this regard also as it would free up kids from travelling large distances to wells and in some cases allow them to go to school.

    Naturally refridgeration would be preferable but most people in poorer can’t afford fridges, not to mind ( your imaginary cherap) electricity prices.

    Industry does of course need a consistent supply of power. Ghana is an interesting example there. The Akosombo dam is the primary source of power for the country but because of climate change the river which flows into it (the Volta if I remember correctly) has far less water in it. Thus the electricity supply is limited and must be alternated around the country during the day.

    Clearly a large amount of sustainable energy is needed but we must be careful about short to long term disadvantges eg. with coal (in general- I’m not familiar with the Vietnamese case that you mention) which causes climate change. It’s not just a few ecolooons who believe that, it’s the vast majority of scientists.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:00 PM

    Apologies- this post should be further down in response to Morticia

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:58 PM

    Jesus wept, someone is suggesting that these people use man-powered pumps? Ecoloons want YOU and the poor of Asia to live in the middle ages where after a short and cruel life you just drop dead. The primative lifestyle they love so much is never for themselves, just others. Some posted a comment on the Journal yesterday remarking on the arrogance of ecologists and that was right on the button.

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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 4:06 PM

    Morticia

    Have you ever used a hand pump in an African village? I have, in fact I helped to pay for a few to be built. they are very easy to use, not labour intensive and are sustainable to construct and maintain by local communities. Each one typically serves 800 people which saves many lives, helps agriculture and, as I mentioned before, always access to education. I am not arguing against electric pumps, I am just saying that, when resources are limited in an area, one must make choices and prioritise. These choices would be easier if rich countries paid fair and reliable prices for the commodities that they get from these countries.

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    Jul 19th 2013, 4:40 PM

    Good for you but as long as people indulge in this type of bleeding heart sticking plaster approach then the African and Asian people will be left in the middle ages. I will say it again, ecoloons are the biggest threat to prosperity and a decent lifestyle whereever they meddle.Well,maybe second to aid agencies but a menace nonetheless. Why do ecoloons prevent the distribution of fertilisers to poor farmers?

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    Mute Fergus Gaffney
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:54 PM

    Can Ireland do the same with all asylum seekers.

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    Mute Shane Terry
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:20 PM

    When the global climate temperatures rise and austrailians have to move country due to barren land and no water lets see who has the last laugh. Ireland should be advertising now and taking advance bookings for entry we would soon be out of the red.

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    Mute B7584
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:52 PM

    Seriously, go have a nap.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:27 PM

    A possible solution to the Refugee seeker problem, used very successfully to enslave young aboriginals in Australia previously…
    Why not forcibly take young, strong children of these asylum seekers and allow them to be “adopted” by white Australians to be used as slaves….
    Sounds far-fetched…it’s already happened to the Aboriginals right up to the 90s…
    Australia…concerned about the safety of boat people..don’t give me that crap…

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Jul 19th 2013, 1:39 PM

    Shane, cute ………. But not likely.

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    Mute Mick Madden
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    Jul 20th 2013, 9:06 AM

    Fair play about the borders closed here. Only let it people we need !

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    Mute Stephen Griffith
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    Jul 19th 2013, 3:13 PM
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    Mute PaoloFreire
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:37 PM

    Which aid agencies? Which ecoloons? Which fertilisers? Which poor farmers? etc.

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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 19th 2013, 5:46 PM

    Give it a rest etc. Paul Ehrlich and that Watson chap have your brain addled with green Marxist propaganda.The agencies and charities are the scourge of the worlds poor as they prevent any real progress being made to end poverty which would make them all go and find real jobs.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jul 19th 2013, 12:07 PM
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    Mute David Giles
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    Jul 20th 2013, 9:40 AM

    It is interesting that this proposal comes from an Australian Labor Prime Minister whose party is supported and financed by the Australian trade unions. It will win him votes in the next election but maybe not enough to win it. The policy will not be revoked by his successor. It is a sensible policy because it will help discourage people from trying to reach Australia and dying on the way. I am sure that Papua New Guinea led by Peter O’Neill will also benefit. Billions of people would willingly emigrate from poor countries to richer ones if given the chance. Most emigrants are economic migrants. Some are criminals and some are genuine asylum seekers. Many countries accept grnuine asylum seekers e.g. Ireland.Australia is entitled to enact its own laws and is a democracy so if the Australian people don’t like its laws they will vote go change them.

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    Mute Mick Madden
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    Jul 20th 2013, 9:06 AM

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