If Asylum Seekers Must Pay Up, Howard Should, Too
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday August 28, 2002
When someone like Shahid Qureshi is given a choice about the circumstances of his detention, is told for how long he will be detained, and is detained in conditions that meet a standard equivalent to that of at least a one-star backpacker hostel, perhaps we can think about charging him an ``accommodation" fee (``Holiday at the Razorwire Hilton at $130 a day", Herald, August 27).
The charging of such a fee is another outrageous attempt by the Howard Government to provoke the very response made by Mr Qureshi in its attempt to maintain and fan the flames of community hostility against asylum seekers.
Fred Jansohn,
Rose Bay, August 27.
Your article states that the Government writes off detention centre accommodation costs where an asylum seeker's claim is eventually deemed genuine.
Such a good idea should be extended to prime ministerial residential perks, such as the Lodge and Kirribilli House. When an election is called the incumbent is presented with the bill representing pro rata accommodation costs and only when re-elected or upon death in office would the bill for the prior term be waived.
Mike LeClerc,
Dulwich Hill, August 27.
If the self-invited guests had come through the legal front door rather than spending their money on smuggling in through the back door, they could stay at the hotel of their choice but even then they would have to pay for it.
Strange that QCs are so keen to defend illegal activities for free, but charge outrageous fees to the law-abiding citizen.
J.W. Strauch,
Camden, August 27.
It seems no time at all since we were all appalled by the news that, in China, the relatives of those executed by the state receive a bill for the ammunition used.
But here in Oz? In 2002? Our Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony, thinks it a good idea to have parents attend lectures before particular payments could be made.
And now detained refugees can expect to be billed for accommodation costs. Next? Why not a tax levy for all residents who do not financially support the Coalition?
Joe Harris,
North Nowra, August 27.
If the Government has a duty to recover Commonwealth funds, will we be sending a postwar invoice to Saddam Hussein for the cost of invading Iraq? Or to George Dubya for the cost of Australian military support in Afghanistan?
Michael Smolders,
Dulwich Hill, August 27.
Please spare us those bleeding heart-type articles where it shows a comparison between a motel and what is available in a detention centre.
What the comparison did not show was that although you may get a spa, towels and a great bed for $110 in a motel, in the detention centre you have medical, dental, meals, education, free electricity, gas, TV, computers and, last but not least, access to free legal representation, which is something that most Australians could not afford in a lifetime for any reason.
If these people had come into Australia via normal channels they, too, could have had a nice motel in which to stay for the price that they paid a people smuggler to let them jump a queue.
In the end, you get what you pay for.
Elizabeth Finnemore,
Tamborine Mountain (Qld), August 27.
It cannot be. Surely we are not imprisoning people who come to us for asylum and then charging them for it at commercial hotel rates?
I feel physically sick.
Andrew C. Taubman,
Petersham, August 27.
I'm all for our Government presenting illegal migrants with an accommodation bill anything to offset the huge amounts of taxpayers' money wasted by these people, in appeal after appeal, to overturn their rejection of refugee status.
George Fishman,
Vaucluse, August 27.
The Federal Government is proud of the fact that only one Tampa refugee has made it to Australia.
But the real story is that New Zealand puts this country to shame when we see that the New Zealand Government welcomed more than 140 of the Tampa refugees. These people will now become upstanding New Zealand citizens.
Australians should take note of that policy and compare it with our Government's disgraceful, uncaring approach to these unfortunate people.
Richard Slater,
Berowra Heights, August 27.
If these damned reffos refuse to pay for their holiday in Australia, Mr Howard should lock the blighters up.
J. Richmond,
Stirling (WA), August 27.
Predictably, the Letters page dripped with venom this morning as the anniversary of the Tampa incident came and went.
Just for once, I wish these compassionate souls would at least attempt to come up with a plan to stop people smuggling or are they happy to see it continue, and the odd boat sink and hundreds drown?
The Pacific solution has completely stopped people smuggling, and for that any truly compassionate person should be grateful.
Methinks that their hearts are not full of compassion but rather hatred for John Howard and the Coalition.
Malcolm Martin,
Greta, August 27.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald
