RUDD GOVERNMENT CHANGES ASYLUM SEEKER POLICY - AGAIN Canberra Times, Tuesday 23 July 2013. (AAP). The Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs (IMMI), Tony Burke MP, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese MP and the Treasurer, Chris Bowen MP, today announced the Government’s new asylum seeker policy. With effect immediately, Australia will no longer process asylum seekers off-shore or on-shore and will cancel any and all agreements with neighbouring counties for the processing of Australia bound asylum seekers. Policy changes will be directed to process asylum seekers (now to be known as “Clients”) in their country of origin, with the Australian Government leasing one QANTAS wide body aircraft per week for common country of origin locations so that Client’s can make their way to Australia for disembarkation. For Clients planning the journey, they are required to provide proof of identity and the equivalent of $A5,000 per Client prior to departure. Once Clients arrive in Australia, they will be allocated a Tax File Number (TFN) and given the opportunity to fast-track future Australian Citizenship claims by relocating to small Australian communities and assist in the reconstruction and modernisation of remote infrastructure. Citizenship would be granted after 36 months. Those Clients who choose not to join their fast-tracking co-Clients will be free to join the Australian community at-large. All arriving Clients will not have immediate access to current Government benefit systems. During today’s press conference, both MPs stressed that this Policy will address any Humanitarian issues of past policies and will also benefit the Government’s current Budget with savings of at least $A2.2bn per year for IMMI alone. Both also highlighted that as all new Clients will have TFNs and will be in the Australian community paying taxes, lessening the financial burden on all Australians. Any Client who is convicted of a crime by any court of law will be immediately deported back to their country of origin with assets surrendered to cover any costs involved. The above is tongue-in-cheek and solely my personal opinion of what the Australian asylum seeker policy should be closer to as I believe it will totally end the people smuggler problem and not only save all of us $Billions and get Defence and Customs assets doing their intended roles, but give the country a more humanitarian awareness. If you have read this far down and agree (even in part) to what I’ve written, then please “share” on your timeline to get the word out before it’s to late – not just for asylum seekers, but also for us. Wayne Jones, 23 July 2013.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 05:57:53 +0000
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