Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Tonight's prize in the repatriation game: a holiday to hell

By Stuart Barnett - posted Saturday, 15 June 2002


This could be the opportunity to clear the overcrowded prison system. What incarcerated-for-life murderer would not be interested in $2000 and a new life in Afghanistan? The program could also be extended to prison wardens and prisoners' families - what sort of individuals associate with known criminals anyway?

Maybe the issue should be put to a Big Brother-style vote and extended to all un-Australian Australians. No-one is going to miss that little kid down the road who was so kind as to scratch his name into my bonnet; he would probably grow up to be a criminal anyway - entirely un-Australian. And he's probably descended from convicts anyway.

Finally, the Government could cut the cost of the refugee policy.

Advertisement

People smuggling is clearly illegal but, thankfully, refugee trading is not. The proposal to swap asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island with US refugees from Cuba and Haiti has real potential. The key is to determine an opportune swap rate for refugees: if Australia can get, say, four Cubans for every five Afghans, then a net loss will result and therefore reduce the overall number of refugees under Australian control.

Even better still would be if Cubans could be persuaded to go home for a lesser sum of, say, $1500; then the swap rate would be irrelevant - for every Afghan swapped there would be a saving of $500.

Indeed, this could be a new market, with Australia being a major international player and an innovator in new areas of globalisation.

Refugee policy is finally making sense - or is that cents?

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All

This article was first published in the Sydney Morning Herald on June 13 2002.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Stuart J. Barnett is a Brisbane writer.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Stuart Barnett
Related Links
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Photo of Stuart Barnett
Article Tools
Comment Comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy