It's time to toughen asylum stance
Editorial From: Herald Sun April 23, 2011 12:00AM
RIOTERS at Sydney's Villawood detention centre would appear to have achieved what the divisive debate in the Federal Parliament has failed to resolve.
Bipartisanship, once the solid policy on which immigration was based, came about after days of rioting in which millions of dollars worth of damage was caused by rampaging asylum seekers.
But there is a very long way to go in resolving what has become a disaster for the soft policies of the Gillard Government following a similar riot and damage at the detention centre at Christmas Island last month.
At least Immigration Minister Chris Bowen and the Opposition are one in condemning the Villawood rioters, many of whom had already had their applications for refugee status rejected and are trying to turn public opinion in their favour.
The minister says Australians have a right to be angry, as if they need to be told. He adds that he shares their anger, as he most certainly should.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison hardly needs add that Australians are sick and tired of waking up to reports of detention centres being set alight and police being attacked.
The people smugglers are continuing to profit from the Government's failed policies and many of the asylum seekers are taking advantage of the compassion they are aware exists for their plight.
What needs to be done is for the rioters who have been refused refugee status to be deported immediately and for the processing of visa applications from anyone involved in the riots to be halted.
The Government and Opposition must work together to find a solution to what has become a major issue involving thousands of asylum seekers who find themselves encouraged to sail here by policies that have lost the confidence of fair-minded Australians.