Opinion

Escorting refugee boats

Seven years ago in my column in The Herald I questioned why our moral obligation to asylum seekers in boats seemed to apply only in Australian waters, and I raised the prospect of Australia ensuring the safety of asylum seekers by escorting their boats from Indonesia. I was moved to this argument then by a statement by then Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock that, in the case of an unseaworthy boat carrying 42 Vietnamese people, Australia would intervene if the boat got into difficulties in Australian waters. Just Australian waters!

The prospect of the Navy escort seems to have moved a step closer this week with the Greens calling for an inquiry into the deaths of five Sri Lankan men who went floating from their boat when it ran out of fuel in international waters on the way to Australia. The Greens want, also, "a public investigation of the monitoring and interception protocols and a move to a more pro-active policy rather than a wait-and-see approach". In other words, the Greens want Australia to actively ensure the safety of asylum seekers heading our way by boat rather than waiting to see if they arrive.

But where will our moral obligation begin and end? Presumably at the border marking the limit of Indonesian waters. Will we have Navy ships on standby or should asylum seekers book their escort? Will they be required to go through a people smuggler? And don't we have a moral obligation to spare the frail and children - well, no, everyone - the discomforts of a sea voyage? Should we not provide charter flights?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 11/05/2010 5:14:00 PM | Comments (57)

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These people come here ILLEGALLY, They pass through numerous other contries to get here. They are economic refugees, or Country Shoppers. Australia has NO, ZERO, NIL obligation to help these people in International Waters, or Indonesian waters or where ever else outside Australian occupied Territory. Our Navy should only be there to ensure these boats are turned back and nothing else. We need to help the real refugees in the camps and squallor of SAri Lanka and the like, but these economic refugees who take their thousands of dollars and risk their life to get here by boat need to be turned around. The 5 country shoppers that died, unfortunate but they knew the risks, Australians nor the Australian Government should feel any guilt towards their demise. Sure feel compassion for the loss but they knew the risks and they took their chances. Its called personal responsibility. We seem to have forgotten that in this socialist mecca we are building.

Posted by Nafe, 12/05/2010 10:07:47 AM, on The Herald

Escort the boats and let the boats land in Australia only if the women are not wearing burqas.

Posted by suzhousid, 12/05/2010 10:12:37 AM, on The Herald

They wouldn't want to be wearing a burqa if they went over the side!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 12/05/2010 10:20:59 AM

We have no moral obligation to these people. They should not even be allowed to enter Australian waters. One warning then sink them if they don't turn around. Saves the sharks going hungry as well.

Posted by moron, 12/05/2010 10:14:00 AM, on The Herald

Maybe we should start with not supporting a genocidal regime in Sri Lanka perhaps????????!!!!!!

Posted by Thomas, 12/05/2010 10:16:53 AM, on The Herald

Thomas, the Civil War is over in Sri Lanka, and as history has shown the stronger always wins. Its natural selection.

Posted by Nafe, 12/05/2010 10:23:20 AM, on The Herald

These people are not refugees. They are financially able to pay their way to get here through a number of Countries, none of which have the same financial windfall they receive when they get here. While we hear a lot of rhetoric from the bleeding hearts such as the greens and like minded other groups, none of which offer solutions, or even mention those who have been left behind in the queue or even the disadvantaged and financially struggling Australians. I have said before, and I believe if they got the Captains of these boats and jailed them for a minimum of 10 years and the crews, 5 years, the boats would stop overnight, saving the $millions they are now costing in detention and motel costs.

Posted by MizJasper, 12/05/2010 10:50:47 AM, on The Herald

I wonder if the 5 Irish boat people that washed up in Vietnam got an escort?

Posted by crusty, 12/05/2010 11:18:29 AM, on The Herald

I am of the opinion the Navy should intercept people smuggleing boats, turn them around and escort them back the way they came.

Posted by intouch, 12/05/2010 12:03:26 PM, on The Herald

Get tough Rudd, but that maybe asking to much.

Posted by intouch, 12/05/2010 12:06:58 PM, on The Herald

What would it take for me to bundle up my wife and child, leave my home, and pay for some illegal operator to take me across the open ocean in a dodgy boat, to a foreign country where (if we survive the trip) I am not wanted, and will be poor / destitute / imprisoned / despised? Something enormously significant. I don't think we owe them citizenship, or social security, or money, or a life. We don't owe these people anything other than decent treatment as human beings. I think that, as a nation, we do a half reasonable job of that. We could do better, and we can easily afford to do better. Facilitating their transit is another thing entirely. We should do everything in our power to stop the traffic and the flow. But, for the time being, and for those that make the journey ~ give 'em some basic human respect.

Posted by Abundance, 12/05/2010 12:48:56 PM, on The Herald

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