SENDING THE AFGHANS TO THE RIM

Is Australia attempting to send its asylum seekers to Pacific Rim Nations?

Author: Michael Madigan

Australia has been accused of treating its Pacific neighbors like "desperate prostitutes" by sending them asylum seekers. The allegations follow weekend claims that Pope John Paul was upset by Australia's immigration policy. The accusations were outlined in a scathing report which suggested Australia's "Pacific Solution" causes regional instability.

But the report is unlikely to trouble Prime Minister John Howard. Howard dismissed claims the Pope was troubled by Australia's treatment of asylum seekers. Speaking from New York, Howard said he was unaware of papal concerns revealed by Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See, Bob Halverson. Howard said Australia's immigration policy was not indefensible.

"I've thought deeply and carefully as a person of conscience about the policy and I defend it," PM Howard said.

Aid agency Oxfam-Community Aid Abroad released a report demanding the Government abandon the Pacific solution. Oxfam said that spending more than $120 million to process asylum seekers in Pacific countries was bleeding overseas aid programs.

The report included the views of independent Nauru MP Anthony Audoa who suggested Australia was treating Pacific neighbours like prostitutes by tempting poor countries with money. "You try to dangle a carrot in front of them, of course. Just like a prostitute, if you dangle money in front of her, you think she will not accept it? Of course she will, because she's desperate."

Oxfam executive director Andrew Hewett said Australia was putting more pressure on an already difficult situation in Nauru. Papua New Guinea and Nauru are processing more than 1500 asylum seekers. Oxfam said about $96 million was spent to establish offshore detention and a further $31 million was given to the two countries.

"The implications of Australia's refugee policy are distorting and politicizing the aid program, damaging Australia's reputation and adding to regional instability," Andrew Hewett said.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock, during a visit to PNG yesterday, defended the Pacific solution as a boost to regional economies. Ruddock added that the 360 asylum seekers sent to PNG were generating economic spin-offs. "When you have people and activity it generates an economic outcome," he said. Ruddock, accompanied by the Opposition immigration spokeswoman Julia Gillard, said he would view facilities in both Nauru and PNG. He declined to reveal the full cost of the Pacific solution.

Source
This new report first appeared on the << news.com.au >>WEBPAGE.