Boat People are a “Biosecurity Threat” says Opposition
For heaven’s sake.
The opposition has upped the stakes in its demonisation of asylum seekers by today announcing that they represent a dangerous “biosecurity” risk to Australia’s wellbeing.
Liberal Senator Nigel Scullion is livid that the Government isn’t buying into a boat people blame game.
According to ABC News, Scullion says it’s all because of the Government’s relaxation of immigration policies.
“They’re not making any decisions about trying to stop the flow,” he said.
“They’re just in denial about this.
“It’s their changes to their immigration policy that clearly have sent a signal: ‘If you want to get a migration outcome, just get in a boat and go to Australia’.”
Senator Scullion says Australia “cannot afford” to have asylum seeker boats getting so close to the coastline.
“Everybody can remember the black stripe mussels … it literally causes, internationally, billions of dollars worth of damage annually,” he said.
“We don’t have it in Australia [but it] cost the Northern Territory Government millions to eradicate it the last time it appeared.
“And we know that it is a part of the fouling on these boats.
“I mean this is a biosecurity risk, as well as just a risk to our border security.”
The federal Labor MP for the Darwin-based seat of Solomon, Damien Hale, says dangerous situations in countries like Afghanistan have led to an increase in asylum seekers coming to Australia, not Government policy.
Mr Hale says the Rudd Government and the Defence Force are working hard to try to make sure foreign boats do not come too close to the coast.
“I think every effort is made to get them as early as we can,” he said.
“Sometimes these boats do get a little bit closer.
“I think the Customs and Navy people do a very good job and every so often you’ll get a boat that will get a little bit close for comfort.
“But generally they are caught in areas about 200 kilometres away.”
What was all the fuss about again? Oh that’s right – disease infested boats.
Of course, I guess the fact that the ships that dock at Australian ports every day also travel through these waters hasn’t occurred to Senator Scullion.
Perhaps we should just start bombing the boats of asylum seekers and then the Liberal Party might be happy. But then I suppose they’ll be forced to dream up some other impoverished group of people to marginalise and demonise.
Biosecurity risk???
Now I’ve heard it all!
So what is the reason why we are having an influx of boats attempting to land on our shores?
Why can’t we set up a processing centre in Indonesia to avert the possibility of people drowning…I have no problem with people wanting to settle here, is it just the opposition?
Lovely government in Sri Lanka.
Another thought. If there was ever an invasion or nuke bombing of this country I’d hate to think what would happen if plenty of Aussies fled & tried to get into NZ or Indonesia. Or elsewhere. Partially depends on what type of example we set I imagine. Didn’t the Howard government set a good one?
Chook cages anyone?
But I can imagine THE PRIVILEGED will have no probs gaining access to their preferred country.
N’
Every ship from overseas poses a bio-security risk! Christ, they’re clutching at straws with that argument.
Handyrab, nice avatar…reminds me of Thailand.
Yep, best that we close feedlots & cramped chook places & many other places that see animal abuse & cramped conditions & inappropriate feed…this can be a much bigger bio-security threat. Mad cow disease, avian flu etc…
I wonder if Nigel Scullion worries about white &/or wealthy people who crap in foul airplane toilets before they arrive…or spread germs as they join the “mile high club”? And those toilets on visiting ships and yachts…bet they’re all spit polished.
At least the returning military & navy types don’t spread germs. They didn’t in WW1 did they?
Why do I get the feeling that these control freaks turn a blind eye when it suits them? And when they’re not down w/ xenophobic flu.
N’
Actually, scaper, it’s in NSW. Lord Howe Island. A beautiful place! Go there.
handyrab – it is a nice avatar … reminds me of Queensland … scaper, obviously doesn’t holiday at home …
Going by his frequency of comments here and elsewhere, scaper is always holidaying at home!!!!
BTW I’m positioning myself as defacto LHI tourism promoter, with the hope that they will appoint me full time and supply me with a residence on the island
Also, that same place has suffered from bio-terrorism in the past via people, rabbits, pigs and goats!!! Although todays residents do care for the place.
Go there.
Not to mention foxes, starlings, Indian mynahs, cane toads, cats, dogs, crown of thorns starfish, camels, brumbies, buffalo and an assorted pic’n'mix of other flora and fauna in the rest of the country.