"Ban Exports of Live People to Malaysia"

What an embarrassing and shameful policy Australia is currently pursuing in relation to 'boat people' who attempt to seek asylum here by travelling from Asia or the sub-continent on leaky boats. We have set up funded 'detention centres' on various island nations [as well as here in Oz] and more recently signed a deal with Malaysia to take 900 people [in an exchange]. This after a pre-emptive announcement about a deal with East Timor went quickly sour. The logic is we'll stop the trade for 'people smugglers' and choke off the demand...

What it really represents is a government which has lost control of the 'politics' in the situation and teeters on the brink as a minority government trying to plug huge holes in policy to appease middle voters.

Colleague and friend Craig has found a creative outlet for his opposition to this idea and you too can purchase one of his t-shirt designs [subtle or not so] and show support for another option here.

I don't think we fully understand the long term negatives of:

- children in detention

- anyone in detention

- how 'terrorists' win every time we deprive someone of basic freedoms

- the long term harm to these nations as we prop up their economy to pay for this

What would be so wrong with releasing people into the community, testing their claims and allowing them to stay if they are genuinely under threat elsewhere? The economic arguments that "they'll take our jobs" are without basis... you mean they'll start out doing the jobs we don't stoop to do and by becoming contributors and consumers they create demand for products and services just like the rest of us... each person who consumes, creates a job for those who supply...

Special Police Powers the Latest Publicity Fun for WYD

I think WYD08 shapes as an amazing event and the 'pilgrims' are already thick on the ground anywhere within 2 hours of Sydney!! It all kicks off officially next Tuesday and should be a remarkable celebration of the Christian faith.

In 'secular' Australia with the culture/media clash it's fascinating to watch the media frenzy and by and large negativity which may run like the Olympics and turn around once the Festivities get underway.... only to return to vitriol once the balance sheet becomes partially available!

I do still chuckle at the chosen image for the invitation to Sydney in the official DVD promo... "come to the ends of the earth!!" There's a slightly less generous way of saying that...

However, this post is actually about the ridiculous Police powers granted recently to allow Police to charge people for 'annoying WYD pilgrims' and extends to examples like 'offensive t-shirts.'

Some tried to back peddle and claim these powers already exist and this was just a collection of them to inform the public of their responsibilities. Others cried fowl over civil liberties. I bet the 'Chaser' boys were laughing about a story and decision made possible by their APEC Summit motorcade stunt... and the Catholic Church was quick to point out it had not requested this and respected everyone's right to make their views known, to protest etc!!

Not to be denied, the Aussie sense of humour has come to the fore and groups such as the NoToPope Coalition and merchandiser & t-shirt designers & sellers REMO General Store have gotten onboard with a range of designs specifically aimed at attracting the potential $5500 fine!!