<
https://theconversation.com/uk-moves-to-copy-australias-cruel-asylum-seeker-policy-and-it-will-have-the-same-heavy-human-toll-201390>
"The United Kingdom’s Illegal Migration Bill, introduced in the House of
Commons this week, will look very familiar to Australians.
If passed, the bill would see asylum seekers who arrive in the UK without a
visa deemed “illegal” and prohibited from applying for protection under the
refugee system. Any claim for protection will be deemed “inadmissible”, and
anyone arriving “illegally” will be removed to their home country or a
so-called “safe” third country.
The bill also grants enhanced detention powers to the government while removal
arrangements are under way. In other words, it lifts directly from the
Australian handbook when it comes to punitive refugee policy, including the
potentially devastating human impact and disregard for human rights.
The similarities extend to political spin as well as policy. Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak has firmly backed the bill, vowing this week to “fight” for the
legislation. He made his address behind a lectern emblazoned with the slogan
“stop the boats” – the same three-word slogan that helped former Australian
Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott win the 2013 federal election, and launched
a particularly dark chapter in refugee policy in Australia.
While the UK government notes that irregular migrant arrivals have “increased
notably” since 2019, it is imperative to consider the origin of those seeking
asylum.
Afghans consist of the largest nationality group to have crossed the English
Chanel in recent months, consistently increasing since the resurgence of the
Taliban.
Countries do not exist in a vacuum. When wars and conflict erupt, people are
forced to flee elsewhere. This is the fundamental premise upon which the
Refugee Convention was drafted in the aftermath of the second world war."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
