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1. This is one element of the election which disturbs me as well. It seems at the very time when we should be engaging with the world and providing vision for the future we seem to be looking solely after our own interests. There is a sense in which our concern for people seems to be subsumed by economic interests.

   Posted By: John Armstrong, Canberra and Goulburn

2. In the outset of the Election Campaign, a salvo has been shot from both parties, Government and Opposition, that they will reconsider the present Australian policy on Migration, among other things. It has been made clear by both of their intention to reduce the annual immigrant intake to 170,000 or less, from the present number of over 200,000. The reason appears to be driven by economic considerations and jobs opportunities.
   It sounds ominous that the migrants’ issue should be considered a threat to “the progress of Australia”, or that Australian economy has gone askew because of migrants. It is unacceptable that the “migrants’ number issue” be on the election platform when in fact it appears as an “alibi” in place of other real issues.
   The intended migrant intake reduction implies that migrants are in part to be blamed for the woes of the country. This is far from the truth. In fact they contribute to a progressive and expanding economy. The Government has injected billions of dollars recently to stir a lukewarm economy, yet it is not prepared to continue with a sustainable number of migrants who create “the demands” of the economy.
   It is also economically suicidal the “demographic reduction” suggested for Australia. If Australia does not add more and younger population it will add older and dependable senior citizens. The whole attitude is selfish, insensitive and irresponsible. It is putting the head in the sand and not acknowledge realities in Australia and beyond.
   The level of unemployment in Australia is certainly no reason to make the cause against migrants. One more time, this argument is taken out of the closet when it suits politicians or certain strata of conservative society. What migrants have in common is a positive vision: work hard in order to establish themselves soonest in the new country. This can hardly be taken as a negative economic factor!
   A progressive-thinking government in Australia should have a wider vision (as Australia is wide) to lead the world in solutions to the injustices that cause migration by the millions instead of turning its face away. With the global reality of over 230 millions of migrants in the world, this is hardly a time to become insensitive to them on the pretext of “righting Australia”.
   

   Posted By: Fr. Savino Bernardi CS, Provincial Superior of the

3. The first Election debate has once again focused on Refugees and where and how to deal with them. Australia should reconsidered its policy toward them. They are few thousands only who are able to filter through the border security. The border security can be tightened, but those who make it to the Australian shore (and there will always be some) are entitled to a “humane” treatment while the screening process goes on in detention camps, nor should they be treated as “criminals” in “prison camps”. The proposal to hold them somewhere in some foreign islands, Timor, East Timor or Nauru, (usually in third world conditions) during the screening process is an act of opportunism contrary to the way Australia treats anyone in its territory. And besides, it costs more to the tax-paying citizens. The reason provided was to cut at the roots the activities of people smugglers. The push of migrants, undocumented, refugees will never be stopped at the roots until the evil causes persist, nor will smugglers be deterred from continuing their operations. Instead, to allow these people a time, a moment, a policy, an opportunity to speak of their needs, dangers or threats, that is giving them a much more humane and fair assistance and, at the same time, for the government to be more in control of the movement of people.

   Posted By: Fr. Savino Bernardi CS - Sydney, Provincial Superi

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