Immigration

1. What is an asylum seeker?


An asylum seeker is a person who has fled their own country and applies to the government of another country for protection as a refugee. 


2. What reasons would they leave their country and come to Australia?

According to the United Nations Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (the Refugee Convention), a refugee is a person who is outside their own country and is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their:

• race
• religion
• nationality
• membership of a particular social group
• political opinion.

3. What reasons will allow them to be approved for asylum?

If there life or freedom has been threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. If any of these points are present then they are not allowed to be expelled or returned to where they came from.

4. From what countries are most asylum seekers coming to Australia?

Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Somalia.  

5. What is the deal between Australia and Malaysia? (What are the numbers of people being 'swapped'?)

Australia will send over 800 boat people to Kuala Lumpur and in return will receive 4000 refugees from Malaysia and settle them down in the next 4 years. 

6. What rights will they have in Malaysia which will allow them to support themselves?

They will be allowed to work and education and medical supervision will be provided.

7. How does Malaysia normally treat illegal immigrants?

They normally assault them in large groups which is done by the local police.

8. Are children being sent to Malaysia?

Yes.

9. What is going to happen to the processing of the 500+ people currently in Australia who have arrived from the 7th of May?

The government is changing there decision and is going to process them and not make them leave.

10. What do refugee advocates worry about for the 800 asylum seekers?

They are worried that they will be assaulted by the local police. They also fear that Australia will not be able to protect them once they have left their shores.

11. What is the goal of this 'swap' program?

It is to stop boat people from coming to Australia because some of them are being exploited and many of them suffer the risk of death on the way as it is a very dangerous stretch,

12. Do you think that it will work? Why/why not?

It depends on whether or not the first deal works and seeing how it flows. If it is successful and I am sure that it will continue.

Year 10: Monday 25/7 Period 4

1. What title does Kevin Rudd have in the Australian Government? Explain what this role entails.

He is the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister and it involves him interacting with other countries and discussing threats on Australia such as nuclear weapons.

2. What is Kevin Rudd's concern?

His concern is that North Korea with their nuclear weapons make a direct threat to Australia as these missiles can travel thousands of kilometres. He is worried that North Korea is angry at others for the destabilisation when it is clearly their fault. 

3. What forum was he at to express his concerns?

He was at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali. 

4. What actions have North Korea performed recently which have Rudd alarmed and the region lacking stability?

They had recently torpedoed a South Korean naval frigate, shelled civilians’ homes across the border and defied two UN Security Council resolutions by pursuing an enriched uranium weapons program. Rudd therefore is worried at what might next set of North Korea.

5. What is a 'direct threat' to Australia according to Rudd?

The direct threat to Australia is the recently constructed Taepodong-2 long-range missile as it can travel 15,000km.“Its a serious matter; it’s not out there on the margins of our national security concerns; it’s real and I reflected those concerns to the North Koreans today.

6. What do you think that Rudd is trying to accomplish diplomatically by calling out his North Korean counterpart publicly? How does this relate to Australia's relationship and role in the region? 

He is trying to show the world how much a threat North Korea is with the missiles that they possess and also the nuclear weapons that are being created by them. He is trying to make them respond or re-butte to the situation. He is calling North Korea out so that we look good in the world as we have shown that North Korea is a threat. Also it helps with our relationship with other countries because it tells them we have their back as we are looking out for them by seeing what countries possess weapons that can kill and telling others about it. 

7. How does this relate to Australia's relationship to major allies?

Since Australia is closely allied with America and therefore has a bodyguard with it the whole time. Therefore with Australia calling out these other countries they should listen as they don't want to fight with America if they decide to go against Australia. This makes Australia's relationship stronger with major allies as it looks like other countries may listen and think that Australia is a tough country to be friends with.

Foreign Aid Review

Summary:

• In the past 5 years Australia's overseas aid budget has doubled and in the next 5 it will double again.
• By 2015 we will be spending 8 billion dollars on helping people overseas.
• It is not understood why the aid program is growing so fast.
• Aid does help but only when it is put to good use.
• This aid does help though especially when it comes to emergency relief after disasters but this only accounts for 7% of today's program.
• This aid is supposed to help long-term poverty as a billion people still live on under $1.25 a day.
• Poverty is being overcome. In 1981, 54% of the population lived in extreme poverty. By 2005 this had fallen to 25% and by 2015 it will be less than 15%.
• Aid is not the reason for poverty decrease rather economic growth is. Many of the world's populous nations are catching up.
• China has lifted half a billion people out of poverty since 1990 due to economic growth.
• Countries are finding their own way out of poverty so why is Australia doubling its aid program?
• Our money is displacing other countries money that would then be used on something less important.
• Charity is another way of showing our power.

The Author is presenting a story on how what Australia is doing is irrelevant in helping poverty be abolished. Poverty is not decreasing due to aid but rather by economic growth. He doesn't believe that the money is helping but rather is just presenting a nice image of Australia to the rest of the world. Australia is giving so much aid so that they can impress America and get on the UN security council so that we can be safe in the long run.

I think Australia is giving more aid because they want to show the power and wealth of the country. The money that is being used primarily is going towards countries that are using the money for what they would have bought with their money. They then are buying unnecessary things. Some of this aid is going towards the right reasons but only 7% is going to emergency relief.

Positives: 

It gives Australia an image to others so that we look good.

We are trying to build relationships with other countries. Goodwill.

We might get a spot on the UN security council.

Negatives:

This money could be used to make Australia better.

Development could increase.

This money could be used to fix problems such as our own poverty or unemployment.

I still believe that this aid is helping others but it must be researched better so that it is going to a proper cause and not being wasted. This money could really make a huge difference if it is used in the right way.