LETTER IN THE AGE TODAY-Financially astute, and humane, response. The tragic capsizing of a boat carrying African migrants off Italy highlights a stark contrast in the way asylum seekers are treated. The Italian government declared a national day of mourning to remember the hundreds believed to have perished. In contrast, our Prime Minister did not even extend sympathies on behalf of our nation when a boat headed for our shores sank off the coast of Java last week, killing 31 people. Our countries share the same set of challenges in relation to refugees; thousands of asylum seekers flee their country of origin headed for the safety of Italy, as they do Australia. There has been a large increase in asylum seekers travelling by boat in recent years to reach our respective shores. Yet Italy processes asylum seekers onshore swiftly and accepts many more refugees than does Australia. Rather than spending billions establishing and maintaining detention centres in other countries, it would be more financially astute and humanitarian to process asylum seekers quickly onshore where they can establish a new life and contribute to our great nation.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 21:34:22 +0000
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