By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
BARRISTER and human rights advocate Julian Burnside has glowingly endorsed Greater Dandenong Council’s actions at a launch of its asylum seekers and refugees action plan last Thursday.
Mr Burnside, AO, QC, said the plan offered “hope” for “the spirit of the country” against anti-asylum-seeker sentiment emanating from both major federal political parties.
Of successive governments’ policies to deter asylum seekers, he said: “We’re trying to make Australia nastier than the Taliban (to asylum seekers).
“I wonder how many Australians can be proud that coming to Australia can be seen as less attractive than facing the Taliban.”
He wondered if Australians’ anxiety about boat arrivals was caused by a “dim recollection” of how Aboriginals have been dispossessed of their lands and children since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
The Tampa episode of 2001 was a “political response” by the former Howard government. The 4000 boat arrivals that year was dwarfed by the 200,000 total migrant intake, Mr Burnside said.
“People will look back on the years from 2001 and think how did we let governments do this in our name.
“Dandenong can say we saw what was wrong and did what we thought was right.”
The council’s plan looks at the growing demands on community services and volunteers helping asylum seekers, material aid, housing, financial independence, wellbeing, social isolation and literacy.
“If every city in Australia had the same attitude (as Greater Dandenong Council)… we wouldn’t have a problem.
“The people who have the courage to escape persecution… we should welcome them as people bound to make an effort to build the Australia we can be proud of.”
He later told the Journal he was most impressed by the plan’s social inclusiveness.
“I thnk Australians see themselves as laid-back, (giving a) fair-go and egalitarian, and I think it’s largely true.
“But overseas we’re seen as cruel and selfish. That’s why Dandenong stands out as an example of what we are really like”.
Mr Burnside said rising anti-Islamic sentiment and the “Murdoch press” which “never tire of acting as a megaphone of (Border Protection Minister Scott) Morrison and his policies” were fueling the situation.
“You can’t read about asylum seekers in the Murdoch press without them being called ‘illegals’.”
He described anti-Muslim views were the “new anti-Semitism”.
“I hope we don’t learn in the same way as with anti-Semitism how toxic this sentiment is.”
