Australia exports its draconian immigration system

Despite the widely understood necessity to secure borders in a world of shifting populations, terrorism and global poverty, many ordinary Australians now look back in disbelief that we allowed such inhumane treatment to be meted out on people who were simply in search of a better life.

But surely Australia is now in a good position to offer the world some home truths about the consequences of such hard line and inhuman immigration laws. We could quietly inform Europe that apart from diminishing the humanity of both those who are detained and the countries that enforce such regimes - the reality is that such policies simply don't work.

As we have seen in Australia, such laws also entrench people in a position of being “illegal”, meaning they will be more likely to stay permanently for fear of being never allowed to return should they ever wish to go back to their country of origin.

Instead of keeping illegal immigrants out, such draconian legislation ultimately serves to foster and encourage people smuggling, forcing illegal migrants into underground labour situations, removing them from proper working conditions and keeping them outside of the taxation system.

A multicultural country like Australia is living proof of the value migrants can have to society - with our wonderful diversity of restaurants and the tangible contribution that skilled migrants have made to our country.

What we are finally seeing in Australia is a more sensible immigration system. It would be the perfect time for the Rudd Government to speak up about the lessons we have learnt as a nation from our dark chapter of hard line immigration laws.

Only then can we begin to restore our international reputation as a country of decency and a fair go for all.