Probably incorrect information, as well, but I want to throw this out there.

Australia has more than 3,600 illegal immigrants every year. I don't know the actual figure, this is the only figure I have, and it's actually how many illegal immigrants come from afghanistan to Australia. Since immigrants (okay, that's too much of a mouthful, I'm calling them boatpeople...) since boatpeople also come from most middle Eastern States, and about half of Asia, I'd guess the number is much higher, but I have no figures.

Whatever the number is, it's more than our system for 'processing' can handle. Our system for processing works in a similar fashion to our judiciary system. You are judged, based on the evidence available, if new evidence comes up, you may appeal at a higher level of court, right up to the high Court of Australia. The only thing higher is direct appeal to the Head of State (The Queen of England), something that Isn't Done. You have the same rights as if you were already an Australian Citizen, ie the right to appeal, the right to legal representation etc. It is known as the fairest system in the world.

What this decides, is if you are a genuine refugee or not. If you are, you get your papers, you can now apply to get the Dole, etc. If you are not, you are shipped back home. But first you appeal, and you appeal, and you appeal...

Because we have this system, we have a backlog of unprocessed refugees. It can take over eight months (up to two years) for a boatperson to be processed. Meanwhile they are housed in 'detention Camps'. They are fed and housed, although admittedly, in a minimal condition. These camps are at Woomera, Port Hedland, and various other places. They aren't pleasant, and made less so by rioting and protests, but I can't see any viable alternative.
If we release them into the general comunity, to turn up for their hearing, they have this tendency to disappear. I have suggested that the Australian protesters hold bond for them, but this isn't a serious proposition. Can anyone think of a better solution? Obviously the one we have doesn't work, or people wouldn't be protesting about it. The "refugees for aid" plan : ship them off to Nauru so they don't touch Australian soil and can't claim International rights of refuge; obviously is very short term and more damaging than beneficial.

Meanwhile, I know many people who protest about the state of the boatpeople, but none of them have yet produced a viable alternative. One of them has put a poster on our front door, which I am also not happy about, but can't do anything about, at the risk of sounding politically insensitive.

In an aside, another poster that's popular is "Refugees Welcome Here". Which is interesting, given that we live in an ethnic area; somewhere refugees would disappear to. But it is in Melbourne, so the chance of anyone actually having to fulfill the promise of their poster is very minimal.

One of my friends had a "Refugees Welcome Here" poster stuck to a window facing a very busy road, by one of his flatmates. Their landlord asked them to take it down after one night, when some guy banged on the door of the shop below them, demanding to be let in. Interesting.

Anyway, that's my piece. Responses very welcome, flames not. Even if you think I'm being politically insensitive, tell me *why* I'm doing it, because I can't see that there's a better solution, and I'm sick of hypocritical idiots being in my face about problems there just bawling about, and not trying to solve.

samhael