Rethinking the refugee issue

The zero tolerance to violence within the community should be extended to gang affiliations. The insidious nature of gangs is that self-restraint and the personal responsibility of the individual is traded away for the reckless abandonment that comes from being part of a mob driven by emotion.

Anyone that carries out violent acts or is affiliated with a gang and is not a citizen of this nation is in breach of an implicit moral and social contract with the people of Australia and should be asked to leave. Whether here on a work or student visa, or as a refugee matters not, they have abused the opportunity afforded to them and should go.

Having spent 12 years working in east Africa it became very evident that certain groups struggled with relationships and change more than others. Kenyans and Ugandans found the Sudanese and Somali's particularly difficult to get along with due to an underlying lawlessness and domineering cultural attitudes. They appeared to lack a level of personal self-control, continually involved in violence.

There is no doubt that a number of Sudanese have worked hard and have transitioned well into Australian society, but unfortunately some haven't and probably won't. It was unwise to bring an ethnic group into the country that had so many high risk factors working against their ability to integrate effectively.

Sudanese have a range of options available within east Africa where they can be safe while there is insecurity. They have family and clan networks in Sudan and the region far more extensive than a typical Australian family, as that was traditionally their only social safety net.

Australia has many refugee success stories, but we have too many failures that are putting Australian lives at risk daily. For the vast majority of refugees globally, life in Australia is not the answer, it is not in their best long term interest, nor is it the solution for building their alternative future.

Our focus must be on those refugees that have a strong chance of integrating successfully, that their families will thrive in their new found home, and that they will become strong contributors to the broader community. Our compassion should be well informed, not just well intentioned.