Like many Australians I'm both alarmed by and embarrassed by many of our immigration laws. Crikey reports that Federal Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone (in an interview on the 7:30 report) says the Federal Government "we are taking into account what the Indonesians want because they're very helpful to us on border protection,"
Crikey goes on to suggest that this logic is what provides a useful framework for formulating other highly sensitive Australian policies. Like:
Crikey goes on to suggest that this logic is what provides a useful framework for formulating other highly sensitive Australian policies. Like:
- Media ownership laws that increase concentration of ownership: "Yes, we are taking into account what Mr Murdoch wants because he's very helpful to us on government re-election strategies."
- Refusal to acknowledge the threat of global warming: "Yes, we are taking into account what the oil industry wants because it's very helpful to us on Coalition election funding when things get tight."
- Decision to start a faux nuclear debate: "Yes, we are taking into account what the coal industry wants because they're very helpful to us on Coalition election funding when things get tight."
- Snowy Hydro backflip: "Yes, we are taking into account what Alan Jones thinks because he's always very helpful to the Coalition."
- Decision to go into Iraq: "Yes, we are taking into account what the Americans want because they're so helpful when the PM wants to be seen as a player on the world stage."
- Government opposition to allowing advertising on the ABC: "Yes, we are taking into account what the Packer and Stokes families want because they are very helpful to us on election support policies."
See the original article at Crikey
The Australian Federal Liberal party seems to be a horrible machine. I can remember when Amanda Vanstone was considered a compassionate, progressive Liberal with comfort able appearances on left leaning television shows like Good News Week. But I fear this is part of the Liberal party strategy anyone who might have a compassionate agenda is thrown into a soul selling portfolio like immigration. I feel sorry for Amanda and sorry for Phillip Ruddock minister before her who used to be a member of Amnesty International, and I'm told was once considered to be a more compassionate kind of person.
It seems that ministers are forced to choose between the party line and there own conscious and the only was to climb through the ranks is to show you can tow the party line under any circumstance. Some call this strong leadership I'd argue otherwise.
The a just Australia website will help you write a letter to your local member if you want to see some change happen.
The Australian Federal Liberal party seems to be a horrible machine. I can remember when Amanda Vanstone was considered a compassionate, progressive Liberal with comfort able appearances on left leaning television shows like Good News Week. But I fear this is part of the Liberal party strategy anyone who might have a compassionate agenda is thrown into a soul selling portfolio like immigration. I feel sorry for Amanda and sorry for Phillip Ruddock minister before her who used to be a member of Amnesty International, and I'm told was once considered to be a more compassionate kind of person.
It seems that ministers are forced to choose between the party line and there own conscious and the only was to climb through the ranks is to show you can tow the party line under any circumstance. Some call this strong leadership I'd argue otherwise.
The a just Australia website will help you write a letter to your local member if you want to see some change happen.
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