"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door"

                                                                     Emma Larzarus

                    poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, NY, USA

This is the refugee version of  the Great Australian Dream – secure (!), “resort style” accommodation and plenty of sun...

In a world riddled with conflicts, crisis and misery more than 20 million people annually seek new horizons and qualify as people “of concern” for the UNHCR. Naturally the developed world is the prime target for everyone – refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and people smugglers. Australia is under strong pressure to cope with good deal of almost 8.5 million Asian refugees. We resettle about 7000 every year, which accounts for less than 0.1% (for the Asian share only!) Can we afford more?

There is little doubt that if we relax our immigration control soon we shall be swamped with millions of people from all over the developing world. It will be a people-smugglers bonanza and the imminent collapse of our tiny nation. If we are to protect our sovereignty and way of life we need an effective mechanism to control this “peaceful” invasion. Our main objectives shall be as follows:

• We are the only country in the Western world that practices mandatory detention of asylum seekers. Refugees running away from hunger, danger and prosecution come here to be locked in detention centres (not much different than prison camps) where they often spend months and years before their claims are assessed. Is this the way to welcome fellow human beings some of whom may soon become our future citizens?  How can other countries treat refugees a lot better than us and still have much less problems? We are ashamed of our immigration policy and determined to change it ASAP. All detention centres shall be closed immediately after processing their current residents (no later than 3 months after passing the legislation). They shall be replaced by modern refugee hostels and other commercially available accommodation where people can live freely (without barb-wire fences and security guards...) for a limited period of time until their claim is assessed (no later than 1/2 year after arrival). All refugees who are able and willing to work shall be allowed to participate in any suitable Department for Public Works’ project. The money they earn shall pay for accommodation, meals, healthcare and other expenses, as well as taxes and government resettlement bond. Depending on the end result of the refugee claim this bond shall be: 1. Given back to the person after granting of refugee status (it would be great to start a new life having some money for furniture, tools, real estate rental bond, car, etc.). 2. Cover the extradition and other expenses if the refugee claim is not successful. After deducting these expenses all remaining bond money shall be refunded on departure. Good behaviour, skills, language and positive attitude shall be some of the important factors considered when assessing all refugee claims. We believe its importance will be appreciated by all.

• We shall reserve our right to determine the number of refugees and other immigrants we can accept annually, based on our community needs and abilities

• Immigration applications shall only be accepted at our embassies overseas, with fewer exceptions

• We shall sign and maintain bi-lateral immigration treaties with all neighbouring nations in order to curb illegal immigration and promote safety at sea

• All vessels illegally entering our territorial waters shall be intercepted and escorted back to international waters or further if necessary. In the event of a vessel being unable to return or sinking (which may also be deliberately planned by the people smugglers), their crew and passengers will be returned directly to their last port of departure (where possible), except for people in emergency needing vital medical treatment

• We shall bring under control the skilled migration scheme and stop the import of cheap labour undermining the pay and conditions of our own workforce. Such practice may be very profitable for some employers, but at the same time it creates huge social, cultural, demographic and economic problems for the vast majority of us.