Whilst they may have suffered intolerably back home, most leave their shores with one thing in tact, hope. Hope for a new start, hope for a better life. Enter the Australian Government.

In a radical attempt to “stop the boats”, Tony Abbott and his band of not-so-merry men are forcefully intercepting these helpless people out on the high seas, and sending them to a place barely more tolerable than where they came from.

This is a purposeful attempt to break the spirits of the asylum seekers, an array of men, women and children much like you or me, but with a lot less luck on their side. The Government is not concerned about people drowning at sea. They are only worried about upholding their abbhorent policy, by any means necessary.

Australian’s are known for their “Aussie spirit” which bonds us together as a nation, and has helped us prosper both economically and on the sporting stage over the past two centuries. So how can we be expected to tolerate the actions of our leaders, as they attempt to break the spirit of others?

In this article, I will attempt to break the myths surrounding the asylum seeker debate. If enough people are educacted about the reality of the situation the majoritarian view will shift and the Government will have no politial incentive to continue these atrocious actions.

A recent Facebook thread for The Project on the clashes at Manus Island highlighted a number of misguided views, which I am hoping to correct here. If even just one person changes their outlook after reading this, then getting up at the crack of dawn to write this has been worthwhile.

Statement: Oh well… shouldn’t have attempted to arrive illegally!

Reality: Asylum seekers arriving by boat are NOT illegal. They have fled their country due to fear of persecution and are attempting to find safety. In 1951, Australia signed the UN Refugee Convention allowing asylum seekers the right to enter a country for the purposes of seeking asylum, regardless of how they arrive or whether they hold valid travel or identity documents.

Why would we want these violent people in this country they flee there country to bring violence with them.

The majority of asylum seekers are warm compassionate people who are trying to escape the violence, and are not violent themselves. But just say Australia was at war and you managed to struggle onto a boat to survive, spent weeks upon the open sea risking your life to get to another country, then you are forcefully taken somewhere else, and locked up in a windowless shed, with 500ml of water a day in blistering heat, poor medical attention, and being separated from your children. Wouldn’t you kick up a little fuss?

A lot less drownings now. A country can’t be governed to the whims of the bleeding hearts.

Drownings may be reduced but the actions of the Government are putting the well-being of thousands more asylum seekers at risk. On Manus Island, they are denied adequate clothing, privacy, soap in bathrooms and lots more basic necessities. This impacts on both the physical and mental health of these already disadvantaged people.

Come in the legal way and abide by our rules. I could not just arrive in their country and be allowed to do what they are doing.

As per above, it is not illegal to seek asylum by boat. Whilst the people smugglers may be breaking the law, the asylum seekers have every right to flee persecution from their country by any means possible. Refugees fleeing their country because of horrific conditions do not have time to apply for travel documents or travel through authorised channels.

You cannot tell me every one who comes on the boats are legal.

Statistics show that 70-90% of asylum seekers arriving by boat are legitimate refugees. This compares to 44% of asylum seekers who arrive with valid visas.

Indonesia is not at war. If they were true asylum seekers they would of settled there instead of trying to come to our shores. They are only coming here for our welfare system and a hand out.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN Convention on refugees. Hence they come to Australia to escape the horrors in their own country, which our country agreed to support more than 50 years ago. Most asylum seekers come here to start a new life and become business owners or take on low paid jobs that others simply don’t want. This will actually help the Australian economy.

Asylum seekers have suffered enough and deserve a break. We are known as the lucky country. Let’s not become the selfish country.

I am writing to express my deepest condolences for you missing out on the exclusive rights to the Schappelle Corby story. It saddens me to know that you will not benefit from the ratings of this convicted drug smuggler, at a time where media profits are waning, especially in the television and print sectors.

I am also contacting you to announce my availability to partake in any activity (criminal or other) that may interest your network and your viewers. I am available 7 days a week and happy to travel, although being 6 foot 8 I would need an exit seat for overseas flights.

I am happy to perform whatever criminal act you deem most newsworthy, and when caught, can put forward a plea of guilty or not guilty, whichever you think will generate the most buzz for your audience.

I will require a contract to be written up prior to the “task” which will include both the financial terms of my agreement as well as your exclusive rights to the story upon my release.

My terms are $3 million based on current market rates, and provided a maximum ten year sentence can be guaranteed. ($150,000 a year for the next decade seems like a decent wage to me)

For an additional 10%, I will also set myself up with a new Channel 9 branded Twitter account, and provide daily tweets from my cell (international data roaming charges may apply).

Please let me know if you would like to use my services, and I can come in to your offices and discuss the finer points.

Kind regards,

Elliot Dean

P.S. Discounts will apply if the task involves anything to do with humiliating or harming the PM.

One things for sure, they won’t be going with the Aboriginal flag. Not because they’re racist, but because it features the sun, which is the Government’s worst enemy since it provides free energy!

How would Aussie battlers Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer get by if too many people started using solar?

Other items unlikely to be considered on a new flag include sharks, the barrier reef and old growth forests.

But more on these another time

A letter recently sent to the Prime Minister:

To Mr Abbott,

Whilst I have numerous complaints in relation to the direction in which you and your party’s policies are taking Australia, I will contain myself to one issue which has triggered my writing this letter.

Your recent attack on our national broadcaster is nothing more than a grooming exercise, preparing the public no doubt for an attempt to cut funding to the ABC, one of the major sources of information for Australians who would like their news untouched by the Murdoch media and other news corporations pedalling a neo conservative agenda.

You stated that the ABC “appears to be taking everyone’s side but our own”. With this statement you imply that the Australian population are all on one side, that we all want the same thing. Need I remind you that millions of Australians DID NOT vote Liberal in the recent election and therefore do not subscribe to your ideology of what is best for Australia.

You may wish to remind yourself and your colleagues that Australia is a culturally, linguistically, ethnically and religiously diverse nation (one of the most diverse in the world) filled with people with an enormous range of views, ideologies, practices, beliefs and lifestyles. If I were you, I would prepare myself for the knowledge that there are more “sides” out there than you could count.

Australia has just been condemned by the United Nations for 150 violations of international law. If I am on Australia’s “side” are you suggesting I must support these illegal activities?

I am personally offended by you implying that because I am against Australia’s current treatment of asylum seekers, because I believe Australia must uphold its commitment to the Refugee Convention, because I value the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, because I demand accountability and transparency from my government and because I have the audacity to attempt to educate and inform myself on a variety of issues, both domestic and global, from a range of sources including the ABC, that I am not on Australia’s side. I would argue the latter, that by practicing my rights as an individual to hold my own opinions and access whatever news I choose, I am living a very “Australian” life, as this is a democracy after all.

You nationalistic rhetoric is frightening and reminiscent of the lead up to horrendous violations of human rights and dignity in the world’s not too distant past, as are your attempts to quieten media outlets who dare to report the truth and challenge the actions of the government.

A free press is the cornerstone of any democracy and a democracy is the ultimate form of governance. Your attempts to erode this much valued gift (a gift that many Australian lives have been lost defending) will only be met with more resistance and far less votes in the next election.

I will leave you with a quote from a great man whose funeral you recently attended.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others” – Nelson Mandela.

Sincerely,

Erin Joyce
Humanitarian worker, social worker and proud Australian citizen