Six Months in a Leaky Boat

"I’ve been frustrated, but not surprised, that the majority of the coverage – at least amongst what I’ve seen – has been focused on the issue of a few thousand asylum seekers who arrive here in boats, and so little on the significant economic, human rights, environmental, social and security issues which are important in our future relations with our neighbouring countries" Andrew Bartlett, 2010


Andrew pretty much says it all here. I'll be the first to admit my knowledge of global politics is not what I would like it to be (Although I did get a High Distinction Global Politics and Democracy). And yet I don't think it takes a freaking genius to see the so called boat people are not the problem here. It's the reasons they are risking their lives at spending six months on a leaky boat to get here. I think it was a much over publicized event for all the wrong reasons at the latest election. It's about time politicians take up this human rights issue and stop playing some stupid points scoring game. Besides, how did we all get here in the first place?


And Sarah Hanson-Young says.......


"The truth is that long-term, indefinite detention makes people sick. The combination of mandatory detention, indefinite detention and suspensions of asylum claims has led to backlogs in the system and increasing pressure on people in detention" Sarah Hanson-Young, 2010.