…but didn’t.

June 14th, 2005

Petro Georgiou and others sat with the Prime Minister last night and no agreement on the member’s bills aimed at dismantling mandatory immigration detention, removing women and children and all long-term detainees from detention centres and allowing those on temporary protection visas to stay in Australia permanently was met.

Unsurprisingly, HoWARd was unable to reach a compromise and was quoted as saying,

"We decide the nature of immigration flows to this country. I believe that that policy is not only the right policy but it is a policy that enjoys the support of the Australian people."

I am inspired by Judi Moylan’s optimism that HoWARd is capable of displaying humanity.

"[…] but I think, you know, there’s an opportunity…I’m sure that the Government’s willing to, as the Prime Minister stated on many occasions, to make the policy and its administration more humane, to introduce greater flexibility and to make sure that it’s fair."

I am however unmoved from my position that HoWARd is a turd and await the bill’s.


Image from here

How the meeting may have gone…

June 11th, 2005

Yesterday Petro Georgiou, Bruce Baird, Judi Moylan and Russell Broadbent met with Prime Minister HoWARd to discuss the Federal Government’s immigration detention policies. Specifically, Mr Georgiou’s private member’s bills for the release of all women, children and long-term detainees from detention.

Petro Georgiou on behalf of Bruce Baird, Judi Moylan, Russell Broadbent and Suki Lombard asked the Prime Minister to read, listen and watch. Petro had created a powerpoint presentation that was able to be projected onto the wall of the room. It contained,

  1. Images of children behind razorwire with vacant, lost gazes
  2. Images of the babies
  3. The sound of women wailing
  4. Community feeling
  5. The report of the state of mental health issues for people in detention


Image from here

John HoWARd was heard to have said,

"Oh my. How could I have presided over such cruelty and abuse? I will change the policy immediately. Moreover, I will fund a program of community workers to integrate every new Australian into our society and I will assign a mental health specialist to each person who has been detained. I hope Australia can forgive me for this wrong doing."

Dare we hope?

June 5th, 2005

What with the Immigration Department’s magnanimous fuckups…

"An appalling litany of maladministration, bungling and traducing of human rights in detention policy and by the Immigration Department generally has been unfolding for months now, and there is much more to come out."

…and 11 MP’s and Senators willing to vote for the Georgiou bills…can we be proud of our nation and its compassion?

"I think around Australia … no one wants to see kids in detention"

– our Amanda finally gets the worst of it!


Image from here

Childhood must be spared this huge responsibility

May 30th, 2005

Ian Whang, former student, man-of-the-house, interpreter, 12 years old.

That our Immigration Department does not offer an interpreter to all their clients is a matter of great concern, in fact it borders on a breach of duty-of-care.

DIMIA must adopt an opt-out-service culture.
Not this opt-in-service culture that we are witnessing that leaves 12 year old children with the responsibility to interpret for their parent documents that their tender years cannot comprehend.

I was the same age as Ian when I would help my grandmother with her shopping. I not only provided muscle…I also provided interpretation. I found that the delicatessen staff would bypass me and try and get her to agree to ham instead of bacon. They would look for any signs of agreement, after all they were running a business and time is money.
My English was not very sophisticated, it all took time and I had a child’s worldview.
Pressure for profit…
I wonder how much pressure was put on the Whangs to get this DIMIA agenda driven document done?

"The Department of Immigration issued a statement denying it had deceived Ian Whang’s mother. And they said at no time had she asked for an interpreter."

I believe that DIMIA does behave in this opt-in way as an overriding organisational culture and I call it abusive and I am beyond ashamed.


Image from here

I love my job it’s the work I hate…

May 29th, 2005

Tony Abbott thinks that some jobs are really tough and if you just do your best, try your hardest, however poor that might be, then it’s ok.

This is Tony justifying Amanda (and let’s not forget Phil) breathing in and out somewhere near their office…

"What people need to remember is we’re talking here about very difficult situations. We’re talking about, in some cases, people who are in very difficult personal circumstances. It’s not always easy to know exactly what is going on in their lives, it’s not always easy to know exactly what’s happening in their home countries or even which are their home countries. These are difficult personal situations and the idea that you can resolve these questions in a moment is just wrong."

It’s been many moments strung together Tony, they go on to make weeks, months and years.


Image from here