If only other countries took as many refugees

If only other countries took as many refugees … Source: The Australian

What soon becomes apparent is that, despite attempts by successive Australian governments, they will almost certainly fail no matter what they do.

I hate quoting figures and statistics but some are essential to understand the size of the problem. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, last year there were 10.4 million refugees throughout the world, excluding Palestinians, and 4.8 million Palestinian refugees, making a total of 15.2 million people.

There were also 900,000 asylum-seekers seeking refugee status and 26.4 million internally displaced persons, for a grand total of 42.5 million.

Let’s look closely at the 10.4 million refugees.

“Resettlement benefits a comparatively small number of refugees,” the UNHCR comments in its report last year.

Of the 79,800 refugees taken worldwide, the US took 51,500, Canada took 12,900, Australia 9200 — note this does not include those boatpeople who applied for asylum onshore — Sweden (1900), Norway (1300).

It must be obvious to the most purblind that the UN and the 22 countries accepting refugees are only tinkering with the problem. And what a pity self-flagellation is not in the Olympics. Australia would win almost all the gold in the refugee/asylum-seeker events.

According to the silly senator from South Australia, Australia lacks compassion for the millions seeking to escape their hell holes. That’s rubbish. No matter which confusing figures one examines, Australia is the most welcoming country in the world. Indeed, out of the 193 member countries of the UN only 27 participate in humanitarian program to resettle refuges/asylum-seekers in their country. And look at the numbers they accepted in table 1. Belgium, with a population of nearly 11 million, resettled only two refugees in 2010. One wonders how much “compassion” the good senator thinks Belgium has shown. Such compassion is a long way short of Australia’s annual target of 13,750 which, if the Greens get their way, will rise to 25,000 (see table 2).

Meanwhile, Australia already resettles more refugees per head of population than any other country (see table 3).

What confuses many is why the debate in Australia concentrates on how many more Australia should take while ignoring the miserable contributions of the rest of the world.

Why, for example, does Australia take 10 times more than New Zealand?

After 50 years in politics I have yet to find an issue that arouses more passion and so few solutions. We can’t even agree on what to call them. Refugee advocates loathe the word “illegal” but most Australians believe if it is not legal to arrive in Australia without a visa then those who do are illegal.

They blame the Gillard government and point to the Howard government’s success in dramatically reducing numbers arriving by boat. The bureaucracy however claims that the Howard solution would not work today.

I bow to no one in my feelings for those escaping persecution, war, torture and starvation. Too many of my family perished in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and Chelmno for me not to feel for refugees. However, the question never answered by refugee support groups is how many.

Australia’s compassion is evidenced by our absorption of migrants since Arthur Calwell kicked off the immigration program in 1946. Australia has accepted 7.2 million migrants of which 770,000 were refugees.

How did we care for them? If, Hope: Refugees and their Supporters in Australia since 1947, the latest book by Ann-Mari Jordens, is accurate, the answer is second to none. The book contains interviews with 26 refugees from a variety of countries who fled war, terrorism and starvation: Hungary, Germany, Chile, Vietnam, Afghanistan, South Africa, Iran, Serbia, Burma, Sudan, Liberia to name but a few. It is impossible to convey their suffering before escaping and arriving in Australia and settling in Canberra. What is extraordinary is the support they received from friends, family and strangers, who helped with basic necessities. Few countries have matched that welcome so why are Australians so critical of our treatment of refugees when the refugees are so full of praise? Canberra may be exceptional but I doubt it.

Australia takes about 180,000 migrants annually but has occasionally exceeded 300,000. Unfortunately instead of slowing down the flow of refugees to our shores, the reverse is happening. The fear of drowning doesn’t appear to deter them.

The policy espoused by refugee advocates is that anyone who arrives in Australia should be allowed to stay. That is an open-door policy. Since 1989 more than 34,000 boatpeople have arrived with dramatic increases in the last four years (see table 4).

Obviously the more that are granted asylum, the more that will come, despite the risk. More than 900 lives were lost at sea but more than 600 boats arrived. Australians don’t like boatpeople arriving unannounced and uninvited. They believe Australia should decide who comes and how many.

John Howard was ridiculed for saying so, but every prime minister since Barton has had the same policy. Australians are not impressed by where most refugees come from. Colour is not a factor but culture is. And racism?

Australians have noticed that most of the refugees are from countries where violence and corruption are endemic.

In a recent Q&A program on ABC1, the panellists were asked if they thought the reaction would be the same if arrivals were coming from Britain, instead of Asia, Africa or the Middle East. Lenore Taylor, of The Sydney Morning Herald, replied, “Probably not.”

It was a politically correct answer without conviction. Of course the reaction would be different. The bulk of Australians are of anglo-celtic origin and naturally feel more comfortable with their own culture. That’s not unique. It happens everywhere.

The newcomers however will settle in like their predecessors

Australians must stop fighting each other and demand of the UN that more affluent countries take a greater number of refugees.

Taking 79,800 out of 42.5 million is a joke.

Barry Cohen was a minister in the Hawke government.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/if-only-other-countries-took-as-many-refugees/story-e6frgd0x-1226429418748