Today I recorded a speech to the Labor National Conference. I did it because I was asked to. They may not like it.
SPEECH TO LABOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE
What I have to say to you today is not what I would have expected to say.
I do not expect you to agree with me.
Let me start by saying that in my view the current Prime Minister is the worst in our history. The current Government is probably the worst in our history.
But we also have the least effective Opposition in living memory.
It will not be news to you that a lot of people – at least those who think about their vote instead of voting out of habit – must be wondering whether either of the major parties is worth voting for. In my opinion, they aren’t.
There was a time when Labor stood for something. If it still stands for anything, it has been conspicuously quiet on the matter.
On asylum seekers, Labor’s record is patchy and getting worse. In the 2013 election campaign Labor tried to out-promise the Coalition on the cruelty with which it would treat boat people.
I know that asylum seeker policy might be seen as a niche issue, but we are now at the stage that it calls in question the character of the nation.
Labor’s refugee platform speaks in high-sounding terms of fairness and humanity, but it stays silent on the fact of deliberate, intentional cruelty to boat people.
How many Labor MPs have even been to Manus Island or Nauru? When was the last time a Labor parliamentarian went to Manus Island or Nauru? How much do Labor parliamentarians know about the shocking conditions in offshore detention? Labor has not used its position to expose the cruelty and hypocrisy of the Government’s position.
The Coalition’s rhetoric says they are worried about asylum seekers drowning in an attempt to reach Australia, so they punish the ones who don’t drown. It is an intentionally hard line. It is a hard line which depends on a cruelty.
To an outsider, the only difference between the two major parties is this: the Coalition treat boat people and boasts about it; Labor would mistreat boat people, but is ashamed of it.
A voter recently wrote to 45 Federal MPs asking two simple questions:
“In your personal opinion, are asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat treated humanely?
“Do you consider that people who arrive in Australia informally and seek asylum should be called ‘illegal’?”
Nineteen of the MPs were Labor MPs. Fourteen of the Labor MPs ignored the letter. They didn’t even acknowledge getting it.
One of them forwarded the letter to Richard Marles (the Shadow Immigration Minister) which is a strange thing to do when a personal opinion was asked for. But it didn’t matter because although Marles replied, his reply did not answer the questions.
Four other Labor MPs responded to the letter but did not answer the questions. They did say it was important to treat boat people with compassion and fairness, in a dignified humane way. Well, maybe Labor could advance those ideas publicly.
Do any of you have any idea how cruelly people are treated in offshore detention?
If you understand how shocking things are on Manus and Nauru the answers to that voter’s letters might have been different.
But how many Labor MPs have been to Manus or Nauru? When was the last time any Labor MP visited Manus or Nauru?
Either you have not bothered to find out the facts, or you know the facts and don’t care. Either way, Labor should be ashamed of itself.
The Opposition has a chance to be the second-loudest voice in the country. So why are you so quiet about these things?
Labor supported the Australian Border Force Act, which makes it a criminal offence to disclose anything about conditions in detention, including instances of child sex abuse.
There is a defence in section 48, which permits disclosure for the purpose of reducing a serious risk to the life or health of a person. But Labor’s Shadow Minister seemed to be unaware of section 48, and instead defended the legislation by pointing to the more onerous provisions of the whistle-blower legislation.
The only available inference is that Labor supported the legislation without understanding it, and without regard to the obvious chilling effects which the legislation is bound to have.
If Labor actually believes that people in detention should be treated with dignity and compassion, it should not have supported the Australian Border Force Act.
But that’s the problem: viewed from outside, it looks as though Labor does not actually believe in its own rhetoric. In fact, it looks as though Labor does not believe in anything much at all.
If that is where today’s Labor Party stands, it will not long survive.
Labor today looks like a weak centre-right party which does not believe in itself. A party that believes in nothing except power will end up with nothing at all.
If Labor refuses to stand up for the principles it espouses, to articulate them and then argue for them, it forfeits its right to any political support.
I bet Melissa Parke was one of the 4 who answered. She answered me in an email on the same issue the day Rudd announced his Pacific Solution late in 2013. Sadly, it seems there are only 4 in ALP with a compassionate heart.
Totally agree about current PM & government being worst in our nations history. Unfortunately also have to agree about the insipid Labour opposition. Richard Marles recent appearance on the ABC’s Q & A confirmed the moral & ethical line between the two major political parties is blurred to the point of non existance. Either Labour find their soul or be prepared to lose their relevance & my vote.
This is very chilling. I don’t think we would be in a worse frame of mind if we were at war. In a way it is a war . Has a Government or Opposition ever been so pointless,heartless or ignorant in their treatments of Asylum Seekers?. And they still try to come here.
Having been a postwar WW2 refugee and tho’ not treated with wide armed affection by the then mostly Anglo/Irish population, I am both appalled and dispairing of the callousness and cruelty perpetrated on those possible contributing and enriching people seeking asylum from continually brutal regimes. Most are desperate refugees seeking a safe haven to be allowed to practice religious observances and give opportunities to their children in peaceful circumstances.
Thank you Julian. You speak for me too.
And Labour are running scared and failing us in an identical on Climate Change too.
Where is the vision?
Where is the leadership!
Well said Julian. Those of us living in Tasmania would welcome refugees. We have repeatedly said we want them here, would care for them and look after them. the local Mayor and council at Brighton have repeatedly offered to support them here. So have all the Christian groups The Tasmanian community would be delighted. The problem seems to be that the people of Western Sydney don’t want any more people clogging up their roads and schools and hospitals. I can understand that. Well we do want them! Send them here. If politicians are worried about losing votes in Sydney, they should simply explain that no-one will be sent to Sydney. They will be sent to Tasmania. We can care from them, the children wont be abused, they would be welcome in the community. If necessary they can put a time limit on how long people must stay in Tasmania, so they don’t rush off to the bigger cities on the mainland and “clog up” their roads.If politicians want to win votes in Sydney and Tasmania then send asylum seekers here! this could be a WIN WIN. It just takes a good plan, and a sales pitch!You don’t even need to have a sense of empathy, compassion or kindness. Any old mean nasty politician can work this out. It would work for everyone.
Please can we use Australian correct spelling.
It’s Labor in Australia and Labour in Britain.
Julian, you speak much more eloquently that I ever could, but I agree with every single point you made. Right now I am ashamed to be Australian.
It is sadly evident that few of our politicians are committed to an underlying moral integrity in the governance of this country. Australians must begin to speak up for the people and places that are the structure of civilised life. Our decency and sovereignty are ebbing away …
I am hearing many people who could not elect Labor now. For all his good qualities, Bill Shorten is unelectable to those outside the Labor party. We need an Opposition led by feisty people whose Labor values shine strongly in contrast to the Abbott conservative government.
Absolutely true but why is it that so many people are blind to the truth, compassion and the deviousness of the politicians in our two major parties? I am astounded!
Absolutely horrified with the Abbott Government, it’s sneaky, devious methods of silencing the dissendents. Appalled in how it treats those that can ill afford their nasty cuts, it’s treatment of the boat people, how it panders to their rich mates. Have never known so much hate directed at a prime minister before. Unfortunately labour has moved too much to the right, we don’t have a decent opposition, no fight, no guts at all. God help us all if Abbott gets back in,this will be nothing to what will happen if he does. Wake up labor before it’s too late.
Noelene, you speak my words.
Why invite the illistrious Julian Burnside QC to address the conference unless you wish to “hear” his words.
I do not remember a time when politics in this country were at such an all time low.
The cruel class driven compassionless Liberals and a Labour Party that is ineffectual and weak, treating their time in opposition as a well earned time out.
I do not respond to slogans like “Stop the Boats” it insults my intelligence.
The fact that the treatment of refugees is hidden behind a wall of secrecy is of great concern. These politicians don’t represent me. I’m going to be in a real quandary come the next election.
Julian Burnside expresses eloquently the concerns of many (once) Labor supporters. It has been appalling to wait for this apparently enervated opposition to SAY – even better DO something – anything – to object to the callous inhumane treatment of asylum seekers attempting to reach our shores. Equally disturbing is the obvious complete lack of imagination and creative thinking to find possible solutions to yes this complex issue of people adrift, alienated, driven out of and clearly unsafe in their countries of origin. We urgently NEED a new political party with some courage and leaderhip or CAN the Labor Party get its act together before it is too late?
Richard Marles is Morrison without the enthusiastic bravado
While Richard Marles is certainly the ALP’s Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and their spokesperson on Asylum Seekers/Refugee policy there are a growing number of solid ALP Members who are working tirelessly within the party in the Labor For Refugees committee who support and are actively working tirelessly to bring about change within the party towards a more humane, respectful, compassionate, rational, fair and honest solution to the current position. Among their objectives is to see an end to the ‘indefinite’ detention of children.
I have been a supporter of the LNP since I was in my teens. I am disgusted with the lies and Behaviour of both State and Fed Libs to the point that I helped the Labor guy get in, and he deserves it.
I agree with Julian, Labor are a talent vacuum, and Liberal party has been hijacked by right wing religious extremists.
For the sake of the country, we need both sides to perform, but the damage being done in the meantime is of great concern. I wish we could put time on hold while we get rid of all concerned.
Totally agree with julian worst gov ever i dont know where where we are heading except back to the 50s i have voted labor since 1968 not sure what to make of this current mob LNP NEED TO BE KICKED OUT and LABOR NEED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE BETTER THAN THE LIBS AND GO BACK TO THEIR ROOTS GROW SOME BALLS
Thank you for this contribution. Firstly I have never understood the value of ranking the performance of current governments and oppositions with the previous. It’s so subjective. It’s a bit like ranking your friends. If someone is not your best friend then what are they? They are your friend.
To the substance. I wish I knew another way to stop people taking the high risk clearly dangerous option of travel by sea via and exploited the scum-of-the earth filth called people smugglers.
Clearly these people are either desperate genuine refugees fearing persecution or they are high risk taking economic refugees. Either way a rickety boat by sea is not what we want. That has to be stopped. Refugee intake does not have to be stopped and we haven’t but by boat has to be stopped.
Your criticism of the government and opposition should really then be of the Australian people / voters because it is seen by the community as necessary and is therefore popular and is reflected in both government and opposition policy as you say.
I do know from undisputed (by opposition) government information that there have been far less or no refugee drownings at sea since the policy was enforced by the previous Minister Scott Morrison.
The people smuggler model has to be smashed. We have to stop people risking their lives and those of their family and we need to have control of our borders.
I’d be happy to see a wider use of TPVisas to get people out of detention. I’d also be happy to see an extended probation or verification of good character test for would be permanent residents. I’d be happy to see an increased refugee intake but we have to stop the industry that has grown up around it. I include people smugglers and the immigration consultants and include many lawyers.
I note other countries in Europe are now struggling with a greater problem than we have and are concerned about how to again get control of their borders.
It’s not simple because it has to be explained and sold to the people. I don’t think attacking the government and opposition by your subjective assessment against all previous governments is the way. I personally think the current crop are pretty average or below average but we have had worse Prime Ministers and oppositions but I won’t go into that as it is not fact only my opinion.
Logic should win out. I think more stories of how successful contributing refugee migrants and their families are settling in, and there are many, break down the fear in the community. The ABC may be better to be less partisan and spend some more time on some of the many good news stories and balanced reflections on migration overall.
Dear Julian,
Sadly for Labor, the LNP and Australia, you are right!
I am hoping that Labor will sincerely look at itself at the conference.
Labor has a chance if it explains with clarity the road it intends to take.
Politics is traveling on the low road and hence people have lost faith.
Innovative policy which engages people, members who are energised
and debate with conviction,will hopefully contrast to the weak Liberal Government.
If some major changes are not made it will be detrimental to the party in the next election and beyond.
Here here to all of the above
I might add that I am an ALP member.
Barry Stevens
I am ashamed of the Labor party. Once I believed Labor was the party that championed human rights; looked out for the down trodden; believed in equality for all. Labor’s current position on the detention of asylum seekers is shameful. I am ashamed of the actions of the Labor party in this regard. Isnt it time that Labor showed it is a party of compassion?
Unfortunately the worst PM and Government in Australia’s history stand for something. Nothing that I can admire or condone or support or agree to, but they stand for something.
That gives them a constituency; misguided, self-centred, lacking compassion and decency, sectarian, bigoted, frightened, fooled and ignorant of the fact that even though they are his supporters they are not the beneficiaries.
Labor, on the other hand, does not appear to stand for anything therefore has no constituency beyond those who only, and always, vote for them.
I have been pleading for a stand on something, anything, for twelve months. Nothing.
Articulate a value and follow it through to a policy.
Take a risk, dump the focus groups and make a bloody stand. Just say what is right, what it is to be an Australian citizen in this world.
Make a bloody stand
The disgrace of both major parties in supporting deliberate torture and mistreatment of those who did not drown is medieval and makes me ashamed of my country. The Greens are the only group with a humane approach it seems. I too have written to many politicians regarding this issue and none have answered genuinely – just cut and pastes of standard party commentary. Even hand-written personally addressed letters are ignored. This group of politicians are sub-standard rubbish too afraid to think independently about issues of human rights abuses staring us in the face.
Tons of respect for Mr Burnside. But this is not helpful. Allow asylum seekers to become the central issue, and the LNP will rule for decades. Politics is tough. Our top priority has to be to boot this atrocious government out of office. If that means having to accept that we’ve been completely wedged on this issue by heartless conservatives who are more than willing to exploit any sign of compassion for political gain, then so be it.
The Australian electorate are now in the dire situation ,whereby they absolutely are obliged to remove this heinous LNP govt from office ! We have a rising party with some moral standards ,that resemble the Labor party of days gone by in the GREENS, but sadly lacking experience to govern at a federal level ,but tragically the obvious choice for voters is the Labor party , who now seem further to the right than the Fraser govt ! these governments talk POWER ! when they should be talking SERVICE ! I now support the Greens ,Labor have lost this life long supporter !
i agree. Went to an Open Labor Forum recently to hear Mr Marles speak about his and the party’s position on Asylum seekers. He is totally for turning back the boats as thinks it is the humane way to go. we must not start this journey again with inevitable consequences of massive deaths. We will be condemned and wont be doing our best to assist. Had no answer of what to do with the Asylum seekers on Nauru except to say Nauru cannot settle them, believes that noone is being persecuted in Indonesia. That Australia is the 2nd largest per capita country for taking in refugees and asylum seekers; and that we settle refugees and asylum seekers really well here!
And this is partly why the Left is ascending in the ALP….we’re all a bit sick of the Right’s method.
Agree completely Mr Burnside.
I am/was a rusted on supporter. Now swinging (sorrowfully)
I only hope your opinions are respected and heeded.
I despair of the antics of this G’ment. Fascists indeed and leading even to anarchy.
I hope for more taking the fight to the NLP in the very near future otherwise they will lose the election again.
Respect, Bill
Thank you Julian, for standing up for basic decency. I am glad to see that unlike others you are under no illusions as to how low the ALP have fallen.
Julian Burnside, thank you ! from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for your continued campaign to point out the sad condition of the government and the opposition today. It appears that our country has changed very much for the worse especially since the LNP were elected. I have never seen so many bizarre decisions being made by a government with little or no opposition from Labour. It appears that the Greens and a few Independents have any integrity.
Right on the money Julian.our politicians are nothing more than populist bent on survival.their policies on social justice or lack of them have divided our communities.they introduce security laws intended to control and regulate.our rights continue to be diminished.There are no leaders of men and women with principle in any State.
Human life that exists on the sea in search of hope has no value to Abbott & Shorten.
you should run for federal parliament next year.
thank you for your forthright views Julian.
We can no longer blame the media, Labor in this opposition against this government is failing, the polls might look ok, this can change on the whim of a publisher, it is policy, vision, and reform thats needed. No more lame rhetoric in parliment. If the speaker is bias then walk, defy en masse, dont sit there. There is no passion in your voices. Tackle the inhumain issue of refugees, talk to our neighbours, yes! While in opposition, close manus and nauru, bring back pride to our country.
So eloquently said. If only more would stand up and say the same.
Absolutely agree with Julian Burnside. I am a Labor member, and have recently given some thought to whether I continue to remain in this Party. The seemingly obvious compliance with this worse Govt’s policies is nothing short of ridiculous and is not the kind of Party I wish to follow. Labor has to wake up and fight for this country’s proper values.
Thank you Julian. You have said much of what I believe. But I think you wandered away from the real issue of weakness of leadership and I would have liked to see an alternative approach to the issue of refugees. Surely there are many humane ways of accepting legitimate refugees, we have vast areas of undeveloped land and many country towns slowly dying for lack of population. I have often thought that refugees could be introduced to such places and be required to spend time helping to develop our country. The Snowy Mountains project is a simple example? Please keep up your wonderful activism.
I think that nearly all the politicians are simply playing into a bad community attitude towards asylum seekers which also totally sucks, but which has been carefully cultivated by both sides of politics ever since Howard. The only way to ‘keep the bastards honest’ is, as you say, to educate the community as to how absolutely horrible conditions are in detention. And to expose how hope is sucked out of these people by the hired gun and public service bureaucracies under instructions from weak, venal politicians who will sacrifice *anyone* to stay in power. I am ashamed to be an Australian…
Labor could take the wish out of the wash but because they feel they can depend on the preferences of the voters who consider similar issues but prefer a more activist and progressive set of policies they will always fall close to or between and sometimes on the other side of the gap with conservatism. As they are drawn along with the votes in the middle they will continue to shrink because there is an alternative on the progressive side which every so often will capture a seat and then hold it. To survive Labor will have to continue to change and to win government it will have to change the community as well. For that they need a belief drawn from experience and theirin lies the problem. Labor has become an Insider Party clever but hollow.
My wish and prayer is that Labor will come to their senses (if they have any), develop some courage (if they have any)and show some integrity, humanity and moral fortitude by changing their current refugee stance instead of following blindly the L N P cruel and,(sad to say) populist based policies. I have been a (thinking) Labor supporter all my life and again (sad to say), on this issue I am utterly disgusted, therefore unless I see some change in their viewpoint I am seriously thinking of changing my voting intention. Remember what happened to Beasley after his Tampa non-stance???
I was so appalled by the comments of Joel Fitzgibbon re Labor adopting LNP’s ‘turn back the boats policy That I started this petition. https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/don-t-let-labor-adopt-the-lnp-s-turn-back-the-boat-policy. Although it has been running for just over two weeks it has generated 1556 signatures as of Wednesday morning. Ordinary people have made it clear that this is a policy they don’t want. Many have called for Labor to become more humane and get rid of offshore detention completely. Labor Listen to these people stand up and lead from the high ground. Get off your knee’s and climb back out of the quagmire of some of
dirtiest political exploitations of the electorate in Australia’s history.
I understand that we don’t want to be seen soft on National Security for fear of losing votes. Strong leadership doesn’t always do what is popular. It does what it knows is right.
Let’s start standing up for those who need our help.
Very well said. Most sentient Australian voters are now despairing of ever getting a government which looks after its people, and under the leadership of Bill Shorten, Labor is doomed.
Spot on, Julian. Labor must set a strong agenda right now, revisit its past commitments and challenge the coalition with wit and force. The new environmental targets are most welcome. The asylum seeker issue must be solved. There is so much that needs to be done. If Labor loses again it will be responsible for the darkest era since WW2.
Thank you, Julian Burnside, for being an eloquent and persistent voice in defence of the rights of refugees. I concur entirely with what you say and I sincerely hope that Labor is not deaf to your words. As you point out, the very existence of the Labor party is threatened by its inability to stand up for what is right against a government that makes most of us feel ashamed and despairing.
I have been a Labor voter all my adult life – up till now. Labor has lost my vote because of its policy on asylum seekers. On this issue the Greens seem the only Party with any integrity left.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with description of this non-existent opposition. When will we have a party with a strong moral fibre to which we can happily give our vote. Experience is not making me optimistic.
Labor lost my support a long time ago. What they are actually doing is relying on the notion that sooner or later, they seem less bad then the other major alternative. A sad waiting game to get their hands on the levers of power once more. Problem is, and Tony Abbott is no John Howard, last time they staged a ten plus year term after a pretty bad first term.
I agree with you Noelene.
However, for the reasons you present, Labor have lost my vote for the first time in 50 years. I will be delighted to again support the party when it regains its soul, humanity and founding principles.
Well said.
This is what Labor needs to hear. This is what Labor needs to respond to.
We are currently represented by people who are mute on the issues that matter and can’t be quiet about the issues that do not.
The heart has gone out of our politicians but I believe an eloquent argument (no way that can come from Bill Shorten) could bring Australia back to a position where we care about people who find themselves in dire circumstances.
Compassion? Please be the party to bring it back.
I could not agree more. We should remember the second verse of the National Anthem “For those who’ve come across the sea, we’ve boundless plains to share”. When the Government and the Opposition make our National Anthem a joke, it is time for them all to go. The ALP needs a new, fair and humane policy on refugees. (It is also time for the ineffectual leader, Bill Shorten, to go.)
Well said Mr. Burnside. I agree 100%. Thanks for speaking up.
Sad and very true. We are desperately seeking leaders with compassion and backbone ….. Yet none are apparent in the two major parties.
Julian, thankyou.
You said what had to be said.
I hope some of them were listening to this speech, I have been a Labor voter all my life (70 y.o)
as my father was all of his life. But unless they start to look like a supportable option – I will not be voting for them again
I completely agree with the Burnside rant. Much of this country is naturally disposed toward a traditional Labor stance, but it is infuriating that it chooses now to put politics before people – and in a very distasteful way at that.You will not outfox Abbott on his own platform. Get some balls and get bold. Stand up for what’s RIGHT and you will win back support. It’s unimaginable that the NLP should win the next election but I fear it could.
As a lifelong supporter of the ALP, I am completely dismayed and angry with the party today. It has lost all connection with its beliefs and values. What is prepared to do to asylum seekers is deplorable.
The Aussie bigot is alive and well in more than half the population of Australia, thus we are beset with one line slogans reminiscent of Nazi propaganda, demonising minorities to make themselves look better to those ignorant enough to believe we can (as a nation) ignore the plight of people we lock up indefinitely in tropical concentration camps. And indeed it is a sad testimony to the current political climate that I have no idea who vote for next election, because the Labor Party is now as morally corrupt as its Liberal counter-party and I am told that to vote Green is to allocate their preferences to the Liberal coalition. The capitalist world is now an oligarchy…controlled globally and it is very difficult for anyone who does not tow the right wing media-plex line to ever be lent the ears of enough of the populace to tell the truth broadly and make a real difference in any election anywhere.
Totally agree! This government is shocking! After having been voted in on the premise that they would be transparent and not lie (unlike that terrible Julia Gillard who lied about the carbon tax), they have lied about *EVERYTHING*! And their treatment of asylum seekers is appalling! Labor used to be a great party, and have instigated some great social reforms in the past. I have voted for them for most of my life. However, they are now a mere shadow of themselves, and hardly different from the LNP. They are certainly not an Opposition. For the last three elections my vote has gone to the Greens.
Thank-you so much for your wonderful speech, Julian. It is so sad that everything you say is entirely true.
Thank you for delivering this message straight to the point, and straight to the people who need to hear it.
I sent a letter to Manus Island, and sadly saw your post about the letters not being delivered. Even prisoners get mail.
Keep going.
I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Burnside. The refugee/ boat people issue alone is a cause of great embarrassment & sadness to any thinking & compassionate Australian – yet we aggressively espouse & enforce policies that Russia & China would be proud of.
I am still amazed that we have to suffer these right wing idealogues & despots whom I sincerely hope do not represent the true views of most Australians-or even a minority of them… As highlighted here,the underlying problem is that labor has totally lost its direction & values. To support this Government in most of the fundamental right wing policies is extraordinary & unbelievable. Unquestionably the worst government in history with utterly incompetent & uncaring politicians- but Labor stands condemned for allowing them free reign & actively supporting their madness & inhumanity. Mr Burnside is right- get back to your values, get some “fire in the belly”, get a leader with some energy,belief & commitment or you will not survive the next election. We suffer a government by default because of labor’s ineptitude. You would not get my vote solely on this issue- let alone the countless other current policies that I find abhorrent.
The politicians in this country are a disgrace. How can they sleep at night knowing the appalling conditions which asylum seekers are subjected to on Manus and Nauru?
Regarding the speech, in the following “the Coalition treat boat people and boasts about it;” did Mr Burnside mean “mistreat”? I assume that this is a typo.
Thank you, Mr Burnside, for speaking out.
I have just read what Julian Burnside had to say. I have always voted Labour and believed strongly in their ideals of fairness for all but I too have to say I am extremely saddened by the lack of evidence of any compassion from the Labour Party in relation to asylum seekers. If it doesn’t change I really don’t know what to do. Equally I would hate to see the present government returned so let’s hope sense prevails at the conference this weekend. Please get back to the ideals that have always guided this party.
I agree with your thoughts on the current government and opposition.
I for one was not impressed with the selection of Bill shorten for Labour leader. It was not just that he had blood on his hands with the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd shambles but that he came across as a week leader and, possibly, a Union stooge. In the time he has been leader he has become “Sound Bite Bill” with not much meat in what he is saying.
Labour lacks direction and if they can’t communicate their values to the converted then what hope do they have with the swinging voters?
Thank you for giving voice to the concerns of so many. Asylum seeker policy (although even that is too generous a term) is a symptom of this government’s erroneous thinking. The way it treats asylum seekers is the way it also treats its own vulnerable citizens and our common environment. There is a refusal to acknowledge that we are all connected and how we treat one is how we treat all. And Labor does not provide a viable alternative. No wonder the Greens’ vote has increased significantly. I can only hope that some good will come of this, if only that people realise and understand the type of government they do not want.
Agree with Julian in every respect. You could turn another page, Labor Party, & come out fighting in defense of asylum seekers, in their right for recognition, help & compassion.. Forget about what you’ve championed before.
Great speech. It is sad to say, but a lot of Labor people are quite open about the fact that the sole reason for their migration policy is to attempt to neutralise what they perceive to be a damaging issue in swing electorates. They are, therefore, happy to cynically trade human pain and suffering for votes.
The line you draw can be extended through many other Labor policies. They pay lip service to environmental issues, then support coal mining, clearfelling Tasmania’s forests, and a deliberately deceptive and half-hearted approach to global warming.
They pay lip service to human rights issues, then vote through draconian anti-terror laws for fear of being branded as ‘soft on terror’ by Abbott and his media cheersquad.
Lately, they have even been abdicating their most core principles by supporting the erosion of penalty rates. The fast approaching issues of the China free trade agreement and the Trans Pacific Partnership will tell us how far the rot has truly gone.
There are many good intentioned but misguided people who still actively support Labor in the hopes that all of this is mere strategy, and that once back in power the ‘true’ Labor vision will be restored. I hope speeches like this one help these people realise that ‘true’ Labor is the one we see every day, dodging and weaving on important questions in a vain attempt to present a sort of Liberal-light option to voters. If these supporters leave, then Labor will have no choice but to confront its demons and rebuild itself into a progressive party for the 21st century.
The longer Labor delays, the more damage Abbott and his ilk will do to our country.
This is very well written. It is truly horrific that our Opposition Labor party is condoning the deliberate outrageous inhumane cruelty of our current government in its treatment of asylum seekers & refugees. They cannot argue they do not know the truth about conditions on Manus Is & Nauru . It is well documented over a long period of time. They seem to be choosing not to see the shocking consequences of their policies. They are not treating the asylum seekers with any respect or normal humanity.It is unbelievable what they are asking now of doctors & others ie to not report child abuse. What are they thinking? They must know this is wrong. As a nation we are losing our soul.
I fully agree about current government and Labor opposition in regard to the inhumane treatment of desperate people seeking refuge. I also cannot understand that none of the major parties is treating Climate Change with the respect it deserves. Australia can forget the share market and house prices, including its economy, when heatwaves, drought, bushfires, storms, flooding, food & water shortages will take their toll. Instead of reporting 97% information covering the scientific findings about Climate Change and only 3% against it, the Australian media gave the denying opinionated propaganda of big industries the same or even more time and space. If my doctor recommends to get a mole removed, I might get a second opinion, but if a further 96 GPs say the same, I would run. Why don’t our politicians get proper information from climate scientists from all over the world and make sure it is published, that the 17% of Australians, who still don’t believe it, understand the facts? In no other country in the world, people question it, like here. Australia has got the best means, with abundant sun, wind and waves to build a strong economy and counteract, what is threatening not just other countries, but Australia,its neighbours, our planet and the future of our children and grandchildren. We have an economy that tells us that it is cheaper to destroy earth in real time rather than renew, restore, and sustain it. You can print money to bail out a bank but you can’t print life to bail out a planet.
At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product.
Labor lost my vote in the 2007 election when it selected an egocentric leader who failed to articulate the promises for working people and their families that were its raison d’etre for more than a century. The ALP almost lost my vote in 2004, but in the ballot box with the pencil in my hand, I couldn’t change my vote even though the ALP had already moved disturbingly to the right.
When Rudd created the asylum-seeker concentration camps in Nauru and Manus Island, I was outraged. I was also disappointed by Rudd’s failure to turn back the Howard Regime’s anti-terror laws undermining civil liberties and the bases of law in democratic societies. The Party’s attempt to undo the damage of the so-called “Workchoices” laws was nothing less than feeble.
In 2012, the Gillard Government attacked the welfare of single parents and their children by moving single parents – in the main, single mothers – to Newstart, exacerbating single parent families’ financial plight.
The ALP’s support of the Abbott Regime’s Border Force legislation and the data retention/mass surveillance legislation indicates that the Labor Party has rejected its history of humane and fundamentally democratic policies. It has failed the Australian People in human rights with respect to asylum seekers and in supporting laws that rip at the very fabric of civil liberties, not as isolated and careless reaction to the insanity of the ultra right excesses of the Liberals – as Julian Burnside too generously suggests – but because there is a systemic failure in the Labor Party to commit to what is above all right and moral, and which contributes to a fairer, democratic Australia. And this failure does not only reside in questions of human rights and civil liberties but in matters of social justice, fairness and equity.
The Labor Party seemingly fails to comprehend that the position the Abbott Regime has put the nation in represents a crisis that outstrips even the treachery of the Governor General’s sacking of the Whitlam Government in 1975. The ALP continues as if it were politics as usual while the Abbott Regime puts in place measures across portfolios, including the Arts, that resemble 1930s fascism, uses 1930s propaganda techniques, opts for selected oligarchs over the people, and threatens the very sovereignty of the nation with the secret TPP deals. There are constitutional measures available to Labor to rescue Australia but timidity born of the Whitlam experience overrules its duty to the nation.
[Disclosure: I have, since 2009, been a member of the Greens and been a candidate at State and Federal levels. I am now retired].
Thank-you so much for this, Julian. Sadly all you have said is true. I just hope that Labor take it to heart and change.
Thank you, Julian, for saying what had to be said. And for saying it in front of the people who had to hear it.
After the appalling years of Howard we expected better from Labor but got worse. After Labor we got Abbott and Morrison’s cynical, cruel and hypocritical treatment of asylum seekers. And now, not a word of objection or even investigation from Labor, just appeasement and compliance. Who are they afraid of? Murdoch? Jones? Bolt?
They are afraid of us, the people. They think that we are influenced by those sour old men. We are not. Our youth are not. Strong leadership and statesmanship from Labor would raise the spirit of Australia and lead to a more compassionate and cohesive society. There are plenty of historical examples where strong leadership regarding refugees has lead to huge economic and community benefits for Australia: Ben Chifley, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke – all Labor icons now!
Thank you for your leadership!
I totally agree with all of Burnsides remarks. I also totally agree with Fraser’s description of the current PM as being the most dangerous man in Australia. What really upsets me is the lack of guts shown by Labor with the result as Burnside points out that I can vote for neither party, which is a tragic position because I firmly believe another term of what I call the LNP rabble will see damage done to our freedoms and social fabric which could be inpossible ever to repair.Above all else, I believe the wilful destruction of the renewables industry is a crime against this nation.
I am an immigrant to this great nation. I arrived in 2003, from the UK, ironically by boat. It was my own boat and I had all the right papers. A long time Conservative Party voter in the UK I had every expectation of voting Lib when I could do so. Howard’s behaviour with David Hicks lost me to the Libs and I never returned. His obfuscation on climate change was also reprehensible and he did deserve to lose to Labour in 2007.
It seems amazing, but only a few short years ago Labour stood for good things: action on climate change, ethical treatment of refugees, a real attempt to improve the lot of our indigenous peoples; and they were market friendly to boot! Still, I couldn’t vote for them. Memories of Red Ken, Leyland and UK miners were still too fresh. So I voted Green.
And I have remained Green. They are the only party with ethical principles for refugees. Today they are they only party who understand the existential threat we face from catastrophic climate change. They also understand resource depletion and what this means for energy and its nexus with the capital markets and the economy. And they understand that untrammelled growth is not only no longer possible, it is probably already finished. They understand that we need to find a new way to live that recognises that we are part of the biosphere and not in charge of it.
The refugee issue does define us. Like King Canute, Abbott has commanded the tide to go out. He is probably amazed that for the moment it seems to have obeyed him. But the refugee “problem” is a building Tsunami that will swamp his puny efforts. We would be far better advised to build systems that cater for incoming people in far more compassionate and cost effective ways.
We would also be far better advised to be planning for the climate and energy constrained world we will actually have to live in than Abbott’s dirty coal fired rear view vision. But then he is the worst PM and his government is the worst in modern Australia’s short history. He is thug and a bully and he has got his way for the moment. Mike Carlton said it best: This government is mediocre and malevolent. The good news is that he will not last and will be slung out. He will cause immense damage before is though.
I hope this happens at the next election, but I suspect it will not. Labour does not give the impression, at any level, of being a government in waiting. I suspect we will continue with our George W Bush moment and elect him a second time. He will cause much moire damage in his second term and this is tragic. Such a waste.
thank you Julian, you said what most of us are feeling. We want a Labor that is fearless and not populist. It time we were true to Labor values. Keep up the good work.
Hi Julian,
Again, you are the crie de coeur of so many good people in this country but you seem to be so alone as a public intellectual and prominent Australian. Where are the thousand voices in opposition, in government, in the academy, in leadership roles across our nation who should be standing publicly against these morally bankrupt policies? But for you and a handful of others, there would be no contrary voices to prompt community consciences. Thank you!
I totally agree with the comments above. I have just recently read that there is a ‘right’ faction in the ALP. That explained to me why the party is so useless in opposition. I guess they really do think the same way as the LNP. I am not happy with their responses to the major issues of climate change, new mines, burning native forests as a renewable energy plus much more. I think it is time to get rid of Bill Shorten and find a leader. what this country needs is some real leaders. Not just bland uninspiring people who do nothing to make Australia great. If I could find somewhere else to live I would be happy to leave this country now. I love Victoria but it is being ruined so quickly it is scary. Along with the rest of Australia and the reputation around the world and I am NOT part of this horrible society that cares about nothing but money!
In total agreement. And I can’t understand the Australian people not showing more disent.
It is a pity that such an excellent speech happens to be delivering a synopsis on the abject failure of labor left in Australian politics. I agree with every point you made, and I wonder- did you find a single sitting member in labor that actually has been to Nauru or Manis?
Marles was a sad story on qanda that night, and I’m glad you took that point to the party as well.
Keep up the amazing work Julian.
Not hard hitting enough. We currently have an opposition that offers no alternative. They certainly do not stand for anything.
Well said.It is about time the ALP stand for something again.
What ever happened to the party of Curtin, Chiefly,Whitlam,Hawke and Keating.The party that saved the country in WW2 and changed our country for the better with economic and social change.
Those men showed Leadership and courage.They argued the case and they brought their party and the country with them.
Even Doc Evatt won the referandum against the Menzies Government about making the communist party illegal. Very similar historical circumstances.
The Australian people can be convinced to change their mind if the case is compelling enough.
The current crop of people in the National parliment seem more intent on short term point scoring rather than on what is good for the country .
Are there any leaders left in this country?It appears it is all to hard for them.If that is the case, why are they there?
I have been voting Labor for 24 years. It has become a habit for me.My 80 year old mother has had this habit too.However like all habits when they become bad for you, you must break them. Technically this habit is not bad for me but other people.I care deeply for the welfare of others.I will not vote for a party who sees people who seek asylum, and arrive by any means as a problem. When the Tampa occurred, I had a relative say at the time ” a pity more didn’t drown”. I could not believe this. I had many uncharitable thoughts towards this person. I won’t divulge them here as I do not like to swear in public.To my great surprise, I have turned this person totally around. They sent me a private message on Facebook. They said keep up the good work. “The power of one” that kind of thing. They even suggested I should work with asylum seekers. I am going to admit I did bear a grudge against this person. Though they never knew. I am however a forgiving person by nature. So to save them face, I pretend they never made this comment in regard to drowning. You see I can forgive given a chance. It is entirely possible I will forgive Labor if they start act decently. I forgive according to actions. I guess you realize I am writing in support of everything Julian Burnside has stated.
History shows that Abbott is Prime minister simply because he wasn’t Julia Gillard or Kevin Rudd and he had a few catchy slogans that could be repeated in lieu of anything of substance.
The ineffectiveness of his government is a inauspicious portent for the ALP who seems to rely on the fact that they aren’t Tony Abbott and don’t seem to have any of the catchy slogans.
The assumption that voters will flock to Shorten simply because he isn’t Abbott rings hollow when the conscience of the left seems to be the domain of the Greens.
Can somebody please just put Bill in a corner somewhere and let Albanese, Plibersek and Wong come out swinging on the issues that made the ALP the party of the people?
Absolutely right Julian, and congratulations to you for speaking the truth fearlessly and accurately. I have already said publicly that I will not vote for any party whose policies are inhumane to asylum seekers, refugees, and anyone who is disadvantaged. So with both the Coalition and the ALP having excluded themselves, I am left with some difficult choices; renege on this commitment, or vote for a party that hasn’t a ghost of chance of election to government. I had hoped the ALP would change its heartless policy. I guess we will see at this important Conference.
I wholeheartedly agree with Julian Burnside’s speech and the sentiments contained therein. I will vote accordingly
Dear Mr Burnside, at 57 I have been thrown on the scrap heap of neo-liberal capitalism and am trying to exist on $620 a fortnight while paying 65% of that in rent just to live. So I have decided to try to improve myself by going to uni where I am majoring in Philosophy. Both the current and previous governments have fundamentally broken the Hobbesian concept of the ‘social contract’ and certainly any concept of liberal values.
But my suffering and the hundreds of thousands of others who have to subsist below the poverty line in one of the richest nations on earth pales into insignificance when compared to the institutional sponsored suffering being meted out on those who seek asylum here. There is no moral justification for the way people are being treated but only ideological driven imperatives. Both sides of politics have made me feel ashamed to say I am an Aussie. Since when did it become morally and ethically permissible to make war on women and children in this once great egalitarian society? How have we come to the point that we can justify torture because it stops drownings at sea of the most vulnerable people on earth and yet who will instead suffer death at their place of origin so it will therefore be ‘not our fault’?
Thank you sir for your endless work and I hope the labor party takes your address to heart though I fear political expediency will rule the day more to the pity and our ongoing shame, cheers, Ken McGrath.
As would reasonably be expected. I cannot articulate as well as Julian Burnside. He expresses all of the things I have been thinking better than I could. Thank-you.
Could not agree more Noelene Harvey. I can only vote independent and hope that independent has a conscience and controls balance of power.
Trouble is Labour tried to be more compassionate when they won power but got hammered by front page Murdoch images of boats and drownings. They are desperate now not to be wedged by bully boy Abbott and Murdoch. Too many Australians fall for the neo con lie of refugee = illegal = terrorist. Hard to fight against such mainstream fascism and propaganda when so many Australians are unquestioning and easily swayed by fear mongering into becoming the selfish nation.
Totally agree with Julian Burnside,lame opposition frozen by fear, Bill Shorten no passion for anything except tipping somebody out, P.M wants us back in the 50’s
I cannot agree more. I acknowledge that Australia faces some significant challenges with the aging population, increasing medical costs due to better technologies to name just 2, but none of these will be solved or even satisfactorily addressed until we develop a national psyche of compassion. Then we may see that the things that benefit others in our country benefit all of us, and that by giving we receive (sorry if that sounds scriptual). I believe the place to start is with asylum seekers, and the sooner we start the better.
Dear Julian
Although your points on this issue may be articulate and valid, I feel that standing on the outside shouting in is pretty unproductive. Either join the ALP and work for change within the party or start your own political party to get elected and work for change as an elected representative. Have the courage to back your beliefs and ask the Australian people to vote for you, otherwise the Abbott government can claim it’s views were endorsed by the electorate.
Absolutely correct, Julian. That’s why people should join and vote for Pirate Party Australia.
Our asylum seeker policy is based on your own recommendations. We actually care about human living conditions and dignity and don’t try to penalize people for being persecuted.
Thank you, Julian, for expressing my feelings far better than I could. Richard Marles is a huge disappointment as is the entire ALP.
I hope your voice is heard by the delegates.
Regards
Kevin Bradley
I wish to say I agree and support the whole content of Julian Burnside’s speech.I am really shocked that there does not appear to be a single Liberal or Labor politician who can see that this is the time for them to examine the definition of moral and humane behaviour and then act accordingly.! In other words they should shout out -This is WRONG,if we lose the election ,if I lose my job then so be it because what we are doing is a WRONG!
In quoting the following two passages from the above speech to be presented to the 2015 Labor National Conference below;
“How many Labor MPs have even been to Manus Island or Nauru? When was the last time a Labor parliamentarian went to Manus Island or Nauru? How much do Labor parliamentarians know about the shocking conditions in offshore detention?.”
and
“But how many Labor MPs have been to Manus or Nauru? When was the last time any Labor MP visited Manus or Nauru?”
It may be worthwhile looking at the issue as viewed from the perspective of ‘Vinnies CEO Sleepout’ in which the plight of homelessness is highlighted.
Given the old adage about ‘putting your feet in someone else’s shoes’ or ‘walking in someone else’s shoes’ it would be interesting to observe our politician’s response to just one 24 hour period on Manus Island or Naru with no more than what is allocated to an Asylum Seeker on admission. This is bearing in mind they may have done nothing wrong in both a moral and a legal sense to get to this position.
There is one word that sums up the Labor Party and indeed its leader Bill Shorten; cringeworthy. I left them for greener pastures years ago. I’m reminded every day that I got it right.
We do have the worst prime minister in history, he is so right wing and totally out of his depth in this role. He is no statesman and resorts to repeating sentence after sentence of innocuous rubbish. If this government is to be voted out we need to change opposition tactics and leadership.
As a labor supporter I am horrified with what is happening over the asylum seeker issue. Mainly nothing! Also the secrecy around this issue and the threat of gaol to people who speak out is abhorant. Abbott is becoming a dictator and our standing in the world is in threat. In all my years I have never been this worried by government
I don’t believe that the Labor Party stand for anything at all! Whilst I might look with disdain and disgust at the Coalition, at least I know who they are and what they stand for. The Greens are the only party left with a conscience.
I would like to say four things.
1) The number of refugees has increased since we started fighting in the Middle East. Maybe we should stop.
2) If they are so worried about people drowning, perhaps a few more embassies in the countries of origen who could do the background checks and fly them here would make it safer.
3) We take the least amount of refugees of any developed country. I thought people were supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around so they should be treated with respect.
4) If it takes so long to process them, employ more people who can. Let’s face it, with declining fertility in our country we need immigrants to remain able to secure our land. Better to take them and educate them to our way of life as it must be better, otherwise they wouldn’t be trying so hard to get here. Sounds simple, but sometimes things are.
It’s the rise of the Greens 🙂
Surely it would be ethical to assist Indonesia to House Asylum seekers in Java and pay UNHCR to use additional officers to process A/Skews. Then fly them to Australia or transfer a boatload on RAN transports. Safer ultimately cheaper, And cuts through the crocodile tears we see shed by leaders on both sides, Who Actually do not care if people drown .
Remember SIEV X ? Neither do the policy makers.
Follow their logic and when domestic violence occurs we will be locking up the beaten women in solitary confinement to punish the pig husband she married. Makes no sense?
It is 11pm. Right now in detention centres around Australia guards are banging on doors, barging in to rooms asking “how many” as they do their nightly headcount.
They will repeat this at 5am. Babies and children will wake in fright crying.
Just one small example of cruelty among a litany of monstrous examples.
How would your children feel to face this night after night?
Julian, thank you for speaking truth to power. You’re fighting for the soul of this country, so tarnished at the moment by recent events. There’s a whole heaping bunch of us out here who love you for this. Please… continue to give ’em hell, will you?
I agree with every word that Julian Burnside has said.
I have virtually always put the ALP ahead of the LNP in my preferencial voting but they are both right at the bottom of the list in recent times!
I think there are some honourable people in the ALP but they do not want to bring Shorten down and be pilloried as was Julia Gillard.
If Shorten has a gram of integrity he would resign, despite his long term ambition to be Prime Minister.
He just does not have what it takes. He might be ‘nicer’ than Abbott was as Opposition Leader but that is irrelevant if he is going to back Abbott’s appalling legislation and behaviour.
We need Tony Windsor back.
We need Dick Smith to stand against Abbott.
We need leader’s of integrity not a bunch of fascists heathering their own nests and those of their wealthy friends!
Thank you Julian for your forthright and humanitarian exposition. I am a member of the Labor party yet find myself absolutely astounded by the total lack of voice from Labor about the plight of refugees and the shocking conditions on Manus. We must change this.
Every day of every week I become more and more embarrassed, ashamed and disgusted by what is happening in and to Australia. I agree completely with what Julian Burnside has to say about the two major parties. I have been one of those people who before voting looks at what both Labour and liberal have to offer usually swaying in favour of Labour as it is my roots. However this time I will be looking a lot more closely, as they have done nothing while in opposition to stop this appalling treatment of asylum seekers. The disgusting amount of money that Bronywyn Bishop spent last year could have seen so many people speedily assessed and freed from Manus and Nauru.
Agreed. Thuggery is not a legitimate tool for this nation.
As a previous labor supporter I couldn’t agree more with Julian Burnside. Labor indeed seems to have lost its way with politicians focused more on increasing their own power rather than any principles. In fact it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between the two major parties. Labor seems to have given up its values. Let’s hope the Greens increase in size to the point that they can shoulder the responsibility of providing Australia with the moral compass we desperately need.
As with everything that Julian Burnside says, I totally agree. The weak, ineffectual and dishonest Labor Party has lost me. I will never vote for them again and although there are some decent and compassionate members of the party, they are not being heard. I am almost as disgusted with the Labor Party as I am with the LNP and that is a big call. Bill Shorten has shown himself as a very uninspiring leader who I do not trust. The Greens are the only party who care more about the welfare of people and the welfare of the environment than their own self interests and that is why I shall continue to vote for them.
Totally agree with Julian Burnside about the ALP lacking principles and values. I have been a socialist since I was 15 – I am still a socialist. I was a member for the ALP from about 1982 until about 4 years ago. I almost left over the ALP’s refugee policies but what pushed me over the edge was the ALP government’s extension of the Northern Territory intervention and the extension of compulsory income management. Leaving the ALP wasn’t about policies – I accept policy compromises – it was about values. I could no longer accept the shame of being associated with some of the ALP’s values, as expressed in what they did and supported. Why would anyone want to be in political party that has such a disregard for citizenship, humanity, compassion and basic humans rights? Well done Julian – it needs saying.
you have articulated everything I believe about the Labor Party. Thank you so much for that. I remember Kym Beasly’s speech agreeing with Howard about the Tampa refugees in order to try to win an election. He looked pale and sick. I thing the Labor Party have been in some sense ‘sick’ ever since. They stand for nothing, they are populist and lack a moral compass. I am watching Bill Shorten agreeing with the ‘turn back the boats’ policy of the Liberal government as I write, and I feel great despair for our country and what the future holds for my family.
I resigned from the Labor Party a few weeks ago but have had no reply.
I couldn’t agree more. But I’d just like to point out that the reason we have the worst government in Australian history, is because previous to that we had the most childish and adolescent, self absorbed government in history. I, like many people I’ve spoken to, voted liberal at the last federal election, full well knowing that Abbot would be a train wreck of a PM. But the Labor party left me with no option due to the stupidity going on. I’m hopeful that party has learned from that and becomes a credible opposition with a clear vision for the country. Only then will it deserve my vote in the coming election.
I’m still waiting to see the evidence…
Awesome speech. Sadly I don’t hold out much hope it will have the desired effect. But what a renaissance in Australian politics it could be if it did! We could even have politicians who actually represent what the populace thinks…
Sadly there is a typo “the Coalition treat boat people”.
I agree totally with the sentiments expressed by Julian Burnside.
Stopping people drowning at sea and being the victims of criminals people smugglers was a desirable end but the means employed to achieve it are unsupportable. They are cruel, inhumane, probably illegal in terms of Australia’s international obligations and hideously expensive. The detention centres on Nauru and Manus island are blots on our national reputation and must be closed. Asking when a labour politician last visited them is very pertinent.
Congratulations Julian on continuing to be outspoken on matters of national importance.
We could use people like you in politics, no matter which party, but I suppose it’s better for you to be untarnished and free to speak your mind without fear or favour!
Keep up the good work!
I would vote for Julien or anyone who stands for basic human decency. That rules out LNP and Labor.
I totally agree with the opinions voiced by Burnside. Labor’s fall back position is always “stopping the death’s at sea”. They appear to ignore the fact that the prime responsibility for the deaths lay with Indonesia: they permit the people smuggling trade to operate; they let the unseaworthy boats sail. Our response should have been diplomatic protest and agitation and for the trade to be stopped at their end. Instead through the Coalition policy we got:intrusion into Indonesian water by our navy; numerous public criticism of these actions by the Indonesian Foreign Minister. Wherefore now our ability to negotiate on this matter with that country?
Thank you, Julian.
You could not have described my sentiments any better. Neither the present government nor the Opposition are delivering any effective reasons for their policies or actions, therfore depriving any thinking voter with any alternative. Their main objective seems to be re-election tomess up the next three years.
I agree absolutley with these comments about the inhumanity of asylum seeker treatment and the apparent support of this by the ALP. I cannot understand why the Leader of the Coalition has announced support for ‘turning back the boats’ when the Labour National Conference presents the opportunity to review current and alternative policies. Surely it should be reviewing evidence from around the world to reform Australia’s cruel management of asylum seekers and to make a bid for leadership in creating a collaborative regional solution.
I agree that the issue of asylum seeker mistreatment at the hands of the Law is a rot which strikes at the heart of what Australia is as a nation. We used to be, and be viewed as, a nation of principle, fairness, and decency; while unashamedly Capitalist, Democratic and Western, our deeds in Namibia, Ethiopia and elsewhere as peacekeepers was spotless and gathered great respect; we may journey to Namibia and when they find out we are Australian we get profound respect and even a thankyou for what we did as a nation – we get respect from black Namibians they do not extend to many white people at all.
A government is held to account by its Opposition. It is only as right and just as it is caused to be by the strident harranguing of its Opposition. Today our government is, by dint of having no opposition to its policies from a Labor party which crawls insipidly into bed with it on all manner of issues, a terrible government as it was also a terrible opposition when Labor was in power.
What we have is as terrible an atrocity as anything you read about from overseas. We have our Gitmo on Nauru, racism and hatred and xenophobia to make Americans proud, and we withdraw from our international obligations in order to dig more coal and steal more taxes from everyone, and Labor does not oppose, merely slides close to Tony Abbott and hopes that the sheep looks like the sheep dog to an electorate blinded by venality and bereft of compassion.
Why they do this when under assault from multiple partisan Royal Commissions is beyond me. It seems Bill Shorten lacks courage, and he projects a timid, vacillating mien, unable to strike forward and hold a position and argue for it, so he appears cowed under these Royal Commissions almost to the point of capitulating.
Why Labor does not champion human rights – the core of what made Australia once good – and unequivocally state there will be a royal commission into Nauru and Manus island, is beyond me; but in their support of the ABF Act it is clear that Labor is as afraid of the truth coming out as anyone else, and seeks to cover it up. They are now actively complicit in drafting purposeful legislation to abuse human rights; any future Royal Commission or UN probe must now blame Labor as much as anyone else.
Howe we can now export democracy, human rights and protection for refugees overseas now, export Australian Values, and earn respect, is beyond me.
I agree. When I look at what is going on in Australian politics, especially around the issue of asylum seekers, I feel so angry and frustrated. I do not understand how the Labor and Liberal, and many in the voting public, can find our treatment these people acceptable. They are humans and deserve to be treated with compassion and understanding. They deserve to have legal protection from abuse, whether it be physical or mental.
Totally and absolutely agree with Julian’s points! Serious voters see the Labor Party now as a clone of the LNP – a shocking indictment on a once great Party that espoused principles of social justice! Unless Labor changes its stance on refugee asylum seeker issues, it can kiss goodbye to any thinking Australian’s vote – mine included! You currently leave voters with a conscience no alternative but to vote Green or Independent! Stand up to Abbott’s lies and bulls**t PLEASE!
Totally disgusted with the current Labor leader, he appears as an Abbott clone,agreeing to support most of the LNP policies When is he going to support Australian taxpayers, listen to what they have to say about humanity, environment, taxes, health, welfare, so far there has been no real opposition to policies affecting Australia and its’ people, just waffle. The continual divisiveness and scare-mongering has not been addressed, nor has the continuing divide between the ‘have and have-nots, the list of disappointments continues to grow. WAKE-UP Labor and start being what you are supposed to be The Opposition.
There is a strange side to the situation regarding those asylum seekers, who come to Australia by boat. They have, in the first place, arrived and been admitted into Indonesia which, in today’s world, is not regarded as a migrant destination. They do not appear to have arrived by unsafe boats!
Australia, which has been regarded as a migrant country for over two hundred years and which, like the USA, has prospered greatly from migration, has not organised itself, like Indonesia, to do likewise. Perth would be a similarly distanced destination from most asylum sources, as would Jakarta.
Surely our interests lie in being more, not less, welcoming than Indonesia. We are already losing out on manufacturing by having such a small population. We can’t even make our own passenger aircraft. We tend to be users.
In the past, like the USA, we have welcomed people from many nations: to our easily observed advantage!
“We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil!” Let us revoke our meanness about that undoubted fact.
This sums up for me exactly how I feel. I have written to both my federal and local labour members to advise that based on the cruelty on current labour policy I have cast aside my life long labour membership and voting preference.
Bill may as well just change his name to Tony and have done with it.
Bill needs to go, Labour needs to regrow its backbone and conscious and become a tangible opposition. Frankly Im disgusted that any government can openly abuse vulnerable people as a political point scoring weapon. This is a matter on which the future will judge those who made excuses in order to pander to the swing voter rather than to stand up for what is right and wrong. We send people to their deaths elsewhere, instead of helping them. People are dying, but not because they try to get to the shores of safety in a leaky boat. People are dying, just not on our bit of ocean. We send them away after they ask for help or we incarcerate them for asking for help. Bad things happen when good people turn away.
Well, I’d vote for Labor to get the Liberals out of power, but I think I’d rather vote for the Greens instead. Sure, it can and has been said that the Greens can promise and say anything, because they don’t have the numbers so they’re just hollow words. But if it’s a choice between giving someone a shot to follow through with actions to back their rhetoric as opposed to giving my vote to someone I *know* isn’t going to follow through, the choice is pretty clear.
Completely agree. Labor needs to return to moral and ethical relevance. Too many Australians are like me and ashamed to be Australian over our treatment of refugees.
Let me put it this way: thanks Julian Burnside but as the circumstances are right at this moment in time this speech is wishy washy. Please remember what Malcolm Frazer said in December 2014! https://www.scribd.com/doc/271786500/20150716-Open-Letter-to-The-Australian-Community
At last! SOMEONE has told Labor exactly how it is seen from outside its own ranks. It is a shameful excuse for a major political party and appears completely unable to function as an even barely adequate Opposition. If it did, it would sweep into Power at the the next elections. Refugees, climate change (no! what you are now proposing is not nearly good enough), health, welfare, superannuation, budget et.al. In all of these – and many more – Labor is a failure. An abject failure. What a shame. It could be so good if it tried. Oh, and replaced the pathetic excuse it currently has as a Leader..
Bravo!!
No time to mince words. You had their ear and you told it straight. I just hope they listened
Labor, for reasons with which I am still grappling, fell off its platform after the Hawke/Keating era. Erosion began under but not necessarily by Rudd. Meanwhile Fraser and Whitlam reverse join hands on an opposite axis. Without a platform Labor will and is already crashing.
Social Justice planks on every level are rotten.
The current Short term “leader” is using an up current of polluted air to keep him afloat when no hard wood platform beam is available to his polluted sight.
When will this speech be played at the conference? I’ll be in attendance Saturday and Sunday and hoping to be there for it.
Cheers
This is s strong speech and well worth the listen. I will be upfront and say that in the past i voted LIBERAL as did all my family – so I blindly followed. In resent years I realised just what the Whitlam government brought forth but at the time how they were kicked out with little recognition for the humane approach.
Now? there is no seeming line between the two parties. They both seem bent on getting into power for the ‘power’ and financial benefits/perks to themselves but little regards for the actual people who vote them in in the first place (other than the big corporations who pay them handsomely!!!). The other parties just divide the votes from each other. If they got a grip and united we may just have a third big chance at making our country something to be proud of again. At the moment I hang my head in shame. Our big things of the moment are: Asylum seekers and the time it takes to process them, Climate change and renewables, GST rise threat when big $$$ could just be taxed accordingly! The people can not keep holding the country up and giving to the rich FOR the rich!
Life long labor voter totally annoyed and embarrassed at the insipid performance of my party.
Just 2 of the questions l want answered:-
How many boats and people have been turned back by our forces??
What was done to ensure that these people made it back safely to their point of departure??
One final question
How does our govt know that no person has drowned and/ or that no boats have gone down.
I believe that as an Australian citizen l am entitled to know what my defence force is doing in my name, and whilst understanding the need for secrecy, these question can be answered without giving away the combination to the crown jewells.
A response on these questions from my govt would be appreciated AND the position on the same questions by my labor is mandatory!!
If only Labor could articulate a way for refugees to be treated humanely once the boats are turned back I think that many people would support them. The greatest humane disgrace is that even though Australia has such a huge country we seem unable to offer any place to refugees on our mainland where they could be given some care that would not leave our nation hanging its head in shame. Please come up with a proper mainland solution to these sad and tortured people.
Keating probably supports Bill in this matter as does Hawke. All of which says that the ALP has thrown away its right to call itself a party that respects human rights. All they really want to to better the place for workers and the bosses who employ them. Bugger the rest.
I agree with writer on all points made. There is only the other parties or independents that I would vote for at the present time if an election was held. Both major parties are cruel ill informed and ignorant to what is going on in the communities that they purport to represent I. A democratic society. I have been in Australia since 1972 and I. The past five or six years I have seen the moral and ethical compass failing In its duty to care humanely forca people who are disadvantaged or marginalised. It is our leaders that the peod employe to meet the needs of a people need to be cognisant of the fact that we pay their wages and the big fat perks they get when they either get kicked out or retire out of public office. Therefore I demand that they change their attitude and develop a moral and ethical compass that treats people humanly under the Human Right act which we signed as a nation.
Absence of political leadership in Australia is stifling any public debate about these issues, as well as the economy and our future. There isn’t even much point talking about what the electorate wants when the electorate isn’t being exposed to any discussion of alternatives.
Labor deserves criticism for agreeing to the Border Force Act and failing to visit Nauru and Manus. But until those who criticise the government (which is appalling enough in nearly everything else they do) can provide a clear plan as to how they intend to make the smugglers business unattractive, it is hard to support them without further unconditionally.
Labor should be applauded for doubling the refugee quota. But I am also concerned that all the lobbying seems to be in support of those who present themselves at our border rather than those (e.g., Syrians) who can’t.
It is not the Labor party I have supported and voted for my whole life. I want it to be better and until it is, it’s lost me.
I agree with the article by Julian Burnside.
Neither party deserves our vote on the issue of asylum seekers.
Australia should have a compassionate approach to this issue above all else. It should have at it’s core ethical and moral considerations for actual asylum seekers.
Certainly this is a huge world problem and it is less than pathetic that it is being used by politicians in Australia to score political points against one another.
I believe this attitude towards asylum seekers and other nonsence comments by our prime minister such as “team Australia” and “whose side are you on” is taking Australians to a rather dark place where I for one would prefer not to be.
I have noticed lately that some otherwise reasonable,educated and decent people are trying to justify torture and cruelty because it has stopped the boats getting here. Quite apart from the matter that they may be sinking somewhere else we should consider whether the end justifies the means. I believe it does not.
Julian,
Well said, but too little too late,
The time is so right for a new political party – without baggage.
None of them stack up or represent the interests of broad-minded majority, people like ourselves. We need a party with vision of an evolution to an altruistic future, whilst maintaining good governance which encourages us to think and do, with minimum interference of our day to day lives. A party that can believe in, trust and then assist the constituent to strive for and achieve greater good in all areas of life. No fear in policy or rhetoric, believes in the Carrot not the stick.
Starting with ALL the disillusioned sitting MPs willing to show some courage and conviction, like that of Don Chipp. Now there was a politician with guts and charisma. But if you aint got it, then you aint got it. Cheers Harry
If ‘Turn back the boats’ becomes Labor policy this is one Labor supporter of 50 years standing who will be voting otherwise next election. There will be many others who will do likewise. Where do we look for ethical leadership, leadership which stands for justice and compassion? Thank you Julian Burnside. I hope your speech has hit home. If it has not, such a cruel policy brings shame all round, not only upon politicians but also upon us who are unable to change their hearts.
If Shorten and his team cannot come up with a better solution,than the government, for dealing with the refugee situation, then they have failed as an opposition,and do not deserve to win government.
Well worded … it is a fraught area and the difficulty that Labor is having in presenting a valid, more humane suite of policies in dealing with it (and after they, frankly, did a poor job with it while in government) just shows how difficult it is. Frankly the WORLD needs a better system to deal with refugees. Currently, if one country is seen as “easier” or “better” than others in that regard, they are focused upon by both refugees and smugglers(as Australia was in this region and as the UK is in Europe) and I don’t blame them. However, for people fleeing what often are terrible conditions in their own countries/regions to go to third or fourth countries muddles the definition between those fleeing persecution/death and those looking for better lives. That is where further muddying of the waters comes in and where the left/progressive side of politics is “wedged” by the right.
What, however, is the solution? No one country can just open its gates wide …. not with the sixty to one hundred million people currently in the world who I have seen estimated to be refugees or similar. An international system perhaps which would apportion percentages of the numbers? Hasn’t that already been tried? Perhaps the numbers aren’t high enough? Again, comes back to the difficulty of developing workable, humane, equitable solutions to what is one of the bigger human problems of today.
I do agree with your description of today’s Labor Party, however. Apparently rather directionless.
Do you have a solution, Julian?
Good on you Julian! Totally agree with you. I just want to thank you for what you are doing. Wish I could do more!
You can, Janine. Start writing to Federal MPs. Consider following this approach: http://www.julianburnside.com.au/write-to-federal-mps-about-refugee-policy/
I agree 100%. I contacted my local MP, Matt Thistlethwaite, Member for Kingsford Smith and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, last week on this topic. Looking forward to the conversation.
I feel it is my duty as a citizen to stand up on this and take some action. There is room for people of good conscience to disagree on asylum seeker policy, but aspects of current bipartisan policy can’t possibly fit into that category.
Could not agree more with your comments. The forces of evil seem to be beyond us at this moment in time not just in Australia but world-wide. I’m not convinced the answers are going to come from politicians just now though. I think its back to us to build local strengths again……
Julian Burnside just articulated my disillusionment with this current Labour Party. I have voted Labour for the past 4 decades but find that I am unable to support this labour government as they have lost their backbone and humanity, they are playing catch up all time instead of being the innovative, future-looking party I loved. At a time when Australia really needs good governance all we have are puppets.
I agree with everything you say Julian Burnside. I no longer recognise the party I have always voted for. It seems that getting into power by appealing to those who can condone inhumane treatment of asylum seekers is all that matters to the Labor Party leader these days. He has lost me. And Labor will lose my vote if they do not strongly oppose his stand on boat people and review and change their policy regarding offshore detention. I will need a loud and humane policy statement from them before I will consider supporting them – and one that is as different from the Government’s policy as day is to night.
This has really got me in a state of confusion and anger at the Labor Party now..I may very well take my vote elsewhere because of this..Both parties are feeding into the racist frenzy brewing in this once great tolerant country!
I’m Australian and my father’s family arrived by boat in 1846. If my family lived in conditions found elsewhere in the world, I would be trying to get my children out, for sure. But we live here and pay our taxes. I am appalled that our government is being nasty and untrustworthy. Give me something to vote for and not just reasons to vote against such poor representation.
Thank you for giving disaffected Labor voters a voice. In the event that Labor doesn’t listen – which sadly seems the most likely outcome – the question then becomes how do we make a difference with our vote and bring this destructive period of politics to a definitive end?
Yes, the only apparant difference between Labor and the LNP is that the LNP seem to actually believe that vicious inhumane and illegal treatment of asylum-seekers is necessary and/or acceptable. Labor’s stance is even more repellant, they don’t have any position other than that they are willing to descend to any depth of depravity if it gives them some temporary political advantage.
The LNP objective is that refugees have to be stopped, at any cost. Yet they seem to be too stupid to grasp the obvious, that the only way to achieve that objective is ensure that effective steps are taken to stop people being forced to become refugees in the first place. Once people become refugees, it is no use simply trying to avoid becoming a preferred refuge for those who are driven out of their country of origin.
That suggests that increased foreign aid is part of the answer. To make life more bearable for people so they don’t need to flee. The LNP are drastically cutting foreign aid, which inevitably means more, not fewer, refugees in future.
Also, there needs to be concerted international pressure on states which abuse the civil rights and economic security of their citizens. Instead of pandering to the human rights violators, they need to be brought to book in international criminal courts.
We should probably start by prosecuting our own international war criminals, those who are guilty of starting illegal wars and of course those who are guilty of abusing the human rights of asylum seekers. If there were any justice, most of the present and former front-benchers from both Labor and LNP would be behind bars.
Which would be a very positive step in clearing the filth out of our parliament and making room for some decent people.
It is a sad day for us all. I agree with everything Julian says and have been feeling quiet despondent for some time. It would seem that government (either major party) is only about getting votes and not about governing our country in a fair and equitable manner. It is a good reason to vote invalid, perhaps by this they will hear the voice of the people they are supposed to be governing. Our local Liberal Member is good, but I cannot vote for her because a vote for her, is a vote for government. It is depressing and many feel powerless.
Thank you Julian, for articulating what many Australian’s feel. I will not vote either Labor or Liberal, until every child is out of detention. Simple as that.
Thank you for speaking that into their faces, and please persist with the notion of prosecuting members of the current government for crimes against humanity. I would suggest however that their behaviour around the obvious dangers of climate change, their demonisation of renewable energy technologies and their betrayal of the vast majority of the Australian people in favour of wealthy mining interests should also be added to the list.
The attempt to keep the truth about Manus Is and Nauru is doomed to fail as anyone who supports refugees in any capacity already knows the how seriously bad the situation is. Why must innocent people be subjected to appalling conditions which destroy them mentally, physically, and emotionally so that male politicians can thump their chests to advance their political ambitions? ‘Saving people from drowning at sea’ actually means ‘Let them go and die somewhere else’
The hypocrisy is sickening.
My feelings are that Labor are taking this tack as they believe it’s a vote winner. They believe the LNP won votes for their “Turn Back the Boats” policy at the last election so they want to get in on the act. Labor has sold its soul for a few miserable racist votes.
Bill you let us Aussies down again.I have always been a Labor voter…please stand aside you really are not strong enough to fight againstthe Libs ..you are so inhumane wanting to turn the boats back…join the Libs Want labor in.
Thank you.
I am not hopeful of any meaningful change in Labour, but thank you for trying.
Thank you Julian Burnside! I hope they actually play this recorded message to the conference.
Every point you make strikes at the core of my despair over the potential for the ALP to have any future relevance. They have shown no inclination to take the lead in addressing the big issues that confront Australia and if this direct message doesn’t shake them out of their torpor nothing will.
Bravo! What a great speech, this should be the Greens attack advert at the next election?
I recall speaking to a Labor MP after the Tampa election complaining about the stand Kym Beazley took over the issue. He replied ‘but we needed to win the election’. I’m sure he was of a different view to his leader. My response, ”but you didn’t’.
Isn’t that Labor’s problem. They think that the electorate supports cruelty. Most of the Labor MPs and members don’t. Then the electorate stays mis/informed because Labor isn’t naming the injustice.
And the electorate secretly thinks they are only supporting these policies to get in. Instead of being ashamed that 50 000 boat people came in while Labor was in power why didn’t they point out we were obligated to take then under the Migrstion Act and we took 1.3 million migrants in during that same 6.5 year period. 50 000 is a small percentage
Labor has lost its way. I am a traditional Labor voter and am bitterly disappointed with the gutless reaction of Bill Shorten to this worst of all Australian governments. Labor’s support of the Border Force Act was the last straw for me. I will not vote Labor until they act like they actually believe in socially just policies again.
Thank you this is exactly how i feel about both parties – we need statesmen and women who have compassion and vision. Today we are in a pool of self interest and ego, no hope for a better world
Thanks Julian. Labor has been an immense obstacle to decent government for at least 15 years now. It has had many opportunities to restore itself. I think we must call for its end, so a real Opposition can step in.
I vote for the party which shows the most intelligence on the most important issues, eg. a sustainable and safe present and future for Australians. I have been voting for the Greens party this millenium, not only because Bob Brown was the first leader who spoke plain English instead of skirting around the truth and answers with the usual ridiculous brand of polispeak, but because the Greens have compassion for those less fortunate than the rest of us. The Greens are representing all of Australia, unlike the two major parties who bat for the top income earners only.
Thank you for making these comments, all only too true. It is wonderful that someone who commands attention is willing to say how bad things are getting.
Labor should be the party of justice and decency not the cabal of cynical calculation we have at present.
Abbott and co should have been well gone by now not because of their appalling psychopathic values, but because they are, simply, incompetent to the point of betraying everything decent in Australia.
please keep it up David B
Thankyou Julian Burnside for making these heartfelt comments. You’ve articulated exactly how my wife and I feel. We are ashamed, thoroughly ashamed of our country’s gross mistreatment of asylum seekers; cruelly putting them into cocentration camps like Hitler’s Germany did with the Jews. Enacting laws to maintain secrecy and to quash dissent. Labor is fully complicent in these crimes against humanity. It is NOT illegal to seek asylum. On the contrary, what Australia is doing is against International Law. My wife and I are desperate for Australia to be rid of Tony Abbott’s terrible LNP government. Although we have been long time Labor supporters and I am an ALP member we feel distraught that our Labor Party has become so weak on these issues. We have lost confidence in Labor.
It amazes me that we still have the economically unbalanced wanting to open the floodgates on border protection here Australia. There is a cost attached to accepting these people and unless nobody noticed we as a country are broke we can only do what we have the money for. If however you are one of the few who wants Australia to accept more illegals and refugees please feel free to supply your name and address and we can make arrangements for them to come and live with you.
Spot on. Thanks Julian.
Great speech! I see nothing in current Labor which gives confidence that they have a vision and conviction in it. The point of governing is to effect change you believe in – but it’s hard to be trusted when the beliefs are applied selectively. This is an opposition cowed and undeserving of governing. Being a mildly less worse option is nothing to be proud of.
I have been to Manus Island. I know what conditions there are like. And I say: Shame Labor, Shame!!
Thank you once again, Julian Burnside, for speaking the truth.
Totally agree. We are fortunate to have Julian Burnside as our articulate critic. Spot on as usual. Thank-you for caring Mr. Burnside.
I’m a lifetime supporter of the ALP. I totally agree with Julian Burnside. If the ALP sells its soul, it will never win government
Labour has long ago lost my primary vote. There is so little difference between its policies and those of the conservative coalition. It renders the whole political system as redundant. I am looking for an alternative to support as there is no joy in a parliament that purely does the bidding of the corporations. The facade of democracy is growing thinner by the month.
At the moment there is a group gathering momentum calling for the return of Paul Keating (if only) to get back into politics. What this is about is the current void in Labour – no one with strong ideas willing to push them, demand answers from this current government, fight for the ordinary Australian. Someone with passion, integrity, vision and a willingness to call the LNP out on un-Australian policies and attitudes. Someone with some wit – to show that lot up for who they really are. I have some faith in people like Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong, Wayne Swan – I couln’t really tell what some of the others stand for. And we’ve seen what women have to put up with in politics when Julia was PM.
Thank God for you Julian. It’s that a man of you’re impressive background can campaign so passionately for what’s right that leaves me with just a tiny bit of hope for mankind.
Shorten is baiting them to decide what they really stand for so he can decide if he wants to lead them.
I concur with everything said, and I am glad the words have been spoken. Labor’s ongoing willingness to be complicit with these inhumane practices I find appalling. We have a terrible blight on our landscape with everything Abbott’s government is doing to destroy all civil liberties and this is made worse: we have an opposition that is too gutless to stand up for what is right.
Thank you Julian Burnside.
Thank you for your article and fighting spirit. Labor under the non-leadership of Bill Shorten has nothing to contribute. All my Mosman friends are disgusted with both Abbott and Shorten. The only party worth supporting is The Greens.
It would be lovely to be able to help everyone in the world.
Unfortunately the rarefied atmosphere where Mr Burnside and others are coming from seem oblivious to the plight of ordinary Australians. More people means more competition for housing jobs etc The economy is completely overcooked and heading for collapse. Why don’t such people understand? is it because it so nice where they live, with plenty of money in their bank accounts. Take a look at Italy, they have had it with immigrants and who can blame them. The Greens & others need to understand that you can’t save the world. Your job is to represent Australians.
Thanks Julian Burnside for being a voice for those of us that are filled with despair of our countries shocking treatment of asylum seekers and the flagrant abuse of power by our current crop of politicians from the major parties.
Yet again JB cuts to the heart of the matter and confronts Labor with its moral bankruptcy.
Well said, Julian! Let’s hope they are listening. And that they then act. It is time we retrieved our dignity as a nation.
I’ve seen it defended on social media that Labor has to support these policies otherwise it wouldn’t win an election. I think there is truth in that – the policies have become so normalised that people aren’t appalled anymore. We have to change the public conversation, but how can we do that? Even ABC reporters are starting to say that boat turnbacks have “worked”, rather than “stopped the boats arriving in Australia”. I think the Opposition is in the best position to bring light into the debate, so I’m dismayed at the direction in which Bill Shorten is taking the Labor Party.
Just brilliant Julian, couldn’t agree more!
I have voted ALP all my life. My grandfather was the publisher of The Worker, the newspaper of the AWU, but these days I doubt if even he would vote Labor, so great is the betrayal of the original humanist ideals. Pragmatism may be called for sometimes, but it should not take over your soul. We are now in the invidious position of having to vote Green and hope that somehow puts pressure on the old party we loved and trusted.
Thank you Julian. Your points are well made.
I suspect the reason we have seen a convergence between the two parties is that they both rest upon the religion of neo-liberal economic theory which has been shown to yield the opposite of what it claimed. As their shared underlying philosophy crumbles we see not one but two naked emperors clinging to each other for shelter while some in the crowd jeer them.
I believe their simplistic and erroneous assertions about asylum seekers are a function of their simplistic and erroneous philosophical platform and as such are entirely consistent. They are attempting to deal with complex issues by applying simplistic “solutions” and chaos is the assured outcome. Just like neo-liberal economic “philosophy” (being charitable here).
Unfortunately, there are too many Australians who also dont want the truth to be spoken out loud (even if they know it in their hearts). I am heartened that the numbers who do want to talk about what is happening seems to be growing. Hopefully that is not just blind optimism.
Thank you for all you do.
Best wishes,
Murray
Tony Abbot worst Prime Minister ever, Bill Shorton worst Labour leader ever. Very very ashamed of how our country treats asylum seekers as criminals, then when they are detained the conditions are worse than our jails!! In Australia we have mandatory reporting of crimes against children why is this not extended to children detained in our ‘care’ on Manus island and in Nuaru?
I am a long time Labour supporter, however I no longer feel that I am being represented by Labour ‘policies?’ If indeed that’s what they are. The two parties appear to be there for one thing, power, not to make our country relevant on the world stage or to it’s own people. For goodness sake Labour get rid of Shorton and look at the alternatives Albernese or Plibersek, someone who will be strong in leadership and in opposition give Labour back to lLabour voters, give us a compassionate voice!
Here, here !!
Sadly, all too true. #thisisnotmylabor
Julian
Beautifully articulated. Labor is utterly lost as a party. Granted, this comes about in part, in the present era because of the one skill possessed by Abbott,if I can be liberal with the use of that term; is his belligerent and pugilistic approach to politics and I suspect, life generally. He has persistently pounded Labor to the point where it now cowers in fear, admittedly with the help of the conservative media, but at the heart of the matter is Labor’s inability to articulate an intellectual response to hysteria.
Cowering is exactly where a bully like Abbott likes his victims to be – all bullies are, amongst other things, seeking to be dominant over their victim.
I understand Abbott’s boxing style was one of raining countless blows in a bizarre and unskilled flurry – it brought him success where you would think an abject lack of skill would catch him out. It is thus in his political life.
An even bigger concern, so eloquently expressed by Tony Judt in “Ill Fares the Land”, is that over the last 40 or so years, liberal governments the world over have abandoned their passionate defence of the rights of all and in particular the tenet that society should be managed to provide dignity and fairness to all. Not necessarily to make all wealthy, but to share more equitably that which society has to offer. Labor has lost its soul and what remains looks to be a mere shell – its ability to mount a defence against Abbott’s lunatic policies completely eviscerated. I expect I will vote for Shorten but solely because I am abjectly repulsed by Abbott and what he stands for, but it is a hollow choice indeed.
I totally agree – I was shocked at the Labor Party’s support of the Border Force Act and now their about face in regard to refugees. I have traditionally voted for Labor but not any more – I am disillusioned.
I agree wholeheartedly with the speech and above comment. I can’t believe that Bill Shorten has done this. Please Labour change the leader and put Albanese at the top. I lost faith with Labour for the l last election and will be voting Green again next time around if nothing changes. Anna Burke knows that boat turnarounds are not the right way to go and says we need to have a comprehensive regional cooperative policy. There has to be a better way.
How sad and fearfully concerning is the situation in Australia today with regard to refugees seeking safety and asylum. Both parties are only concerned with the next election and we have no visionary leader in Government or Opposition. In truth I see no opposition. The Australian populace is fed a diet of fear and so courage and honour struggle to even be heard much less acted upon. Is it a myth that this country does welcome those from across the seas? I wonder!
I now, would not vote for either party
Diana Ashley
As long as Australian voters treat political parties like footy teams,we will go on having this problem.The thought of voting for a party your parents didn’t vote for is just to hard for most aussies,and that is because most people alive today in australia haven’t had to struggle,so thinking about changing your vote is just way to hard,apathy will be our ultimate undoing.
Bill Shorten simply has to go & give the ALP an opportunity to access some leadership by someone who has a vision for this country in the vein of Hawke & Keating. It is telling when former right wing leaders like Malcolm Fraser ,Jeff Kennet & John Hewson appear to be positively radical compared to the current Labor Opposition.
I agree entirely with Julian Burnside.labor had to make big basic changes to stand up for the weaker sections of our community…low paid workers, asylum seekers, the mentally ill. homeless etc.
Please go to Manus and Nauru and see for yourselves. Seeing is believing.
I am appalled by our treatment of refugees (and asylum seekers) and by the debate on these matters. I am also perplexed that it seems beyond our political leaders, especially those in Labor, to reframe this debate so that the Australian community is informed about: why people are desperate to leave their countries; what we might contribute in the international arena to changing those push factors in the first place and to finding a regional solution; and how miniscule Australia’s refugee ‘problem’ in fact is. Thank you for speaking out.
Thank you Julian Burnside. A powerful and truthful assessment of Labor’s stance. I too remember when Labor stood for something. To say they are conspicuously quiet on the matter of asylum seekers is an understatement. Well may they reminisce about Gough Whitlam today, I don’t think he’d even recognise his party.
If only Labour had a leading politician with the honesty, clarity
compassion and passion of Julian Burnside! If only it were illegal to call asylum seekers “illegal’. Or worse still just “‘Illegals” which denies even their status as human beings, let alone people in dire distress. Australia signed an International Convention but
who would know it?
Yes, current asylum seeker policies do “call into question the character of the nation”. It is an ultimate in hypocrisy to cry
‘”Stop the boats”in the name of humane policy and then leave the
asylum seekers to rot in hell on Manus, or Nauru or elsewhere.
Of course the question is complex and regional but is this really
the best that we can do?
And once I believed Australia and Labor at least aspired to the ethic of a Fair Go!
This was a magnificently angry speech, and rightly so. Julian is quite right in saying that many people, who want to be faithful Labor supporters, are wondering whether or not it is now a party worth supporting. It is insupportable what we are doing to boat people, and horrible that the Labor party is doing anything other than showing them the utmost compassion.
The only ray of sunshine here is a possible turn about on the environment on the part of Labor. Labor should long, long ago have decided to back the Greens all the way, and try to save the world from its hideous greenhouse future.
To stand for nothing is to be ethically a vacuum. Who would vote for an ethical or political vacuum?
I expect little else of this government, and as an Australian I am truly saddened and ashamed to say this. I grew up in a household where both sides of politics proliferated and were tolerated, and hotly debated!. I am presently bewildered by a labor movement which seems to have come to a standstill on both social justice and human rights issues at a time when it is most needed for them to champion the rights of our first people, our poor, our farmers, our land, and importantly those seeking refuge in our borders. I love to go on holiday in another land, but I love going home to my home and my bed at the end of my journey… I cannot imagine how it would be if I could not do that!!!! Not to be able to see my family, home, garden, pets, friends, corner shop, work-mates; that I should be so desperately in need of care that I would risk life and limb, mine and my children’s, to seek safety “anywhere” only to be turned away…to what? What happens to those who get turned back? Our leaders are strangely silent on this. Please explain.
We must give a portion of the disgusting amount being paid out to run these concentration camps to the UN to run refugee camps closer to the points of departure. We must facilitate a regional solution. We must bring the refugees on the offshore islands to Australia. We must vote Green or we are complicit in this evil.
I totally agree . If counties like Greece are having to support refugees then why can’t we support desperate people in a humane way.
I have voted Labor my entire life and now at age 77 I am about to change allegiance and vote Greens. We can not support children in detention centres and close our eyes to this process. I am ashamed to be a labor voter.
Sadly the refugee policies shared by both major parties reflect a nation that really is losing its character and soul.
If these views were not so popular they would have little traction.
The call to shape community understanding and compassion are laudable, but it will require visionary and inspiring leadership to pull it off.
There is very little of that on the horizon at the moment.
Without that, politicians will keep on playing it safe.
Because politics is pretty much a numbers game.
I totally agree, I have always voted for labour but this time they are making it very hard, there is no real opposition to the backwardness of Tony Abbott, come on Bill shorten and Tanya, get some fire in your guts! Don t be afraid of losing some votes for standing up for a humane approach and open some doors to this universal problem of people fleeing desperate situations, come on!
Our current PM is a barbarian, certainly not a Christian as he would have us believe. Peter Dutton, I think, is of very limited ability and just a lick-spittle for Abbott, Morrison was appalling. Their behaviour on the issue of asylum seekers is reprehensible beyond belief, unbelievably cruel and totally shameful for our nation, we must now hang our heads in shame. And they are all to be condemned with the Labor Party simply following suit or so it seems.
People have apparently come to accept the argument of “preventing deaths at sea” which was never the real issue; poor fellow my country.
Jenny Coman
Labour has already lost. The choice between Liberal and Labour is a muddy slide between two negatives: what do want, cruelty with bragging rights or considered, strategic cruelty with feigned regret. Julian Burnside has it right, with leaders like these we are all lost. Yet, I do believe that it takes just one small step to change a Nation, we just need to take it together.
Cannot agree more. To my point of view Australia has been let down badly by weak politicians of both liberal and labour parties.
A politician devoid of ethics,empathy, values and intelligence does not deserve a vote or a state job.
It should be obvious that there can be no argument against state sanctioned child abuse. This is clearly abhorrent and wrong yet politicians vote for systems that underpin this. The consequence of that position to me is clear in terms of where my voting loyalty will reside. Others will obviously hold their own opinion to which they are entitled.
There can be no justification in my mind to giving a vote to ANY politician who has voted for the border protection act or remained silent on the findings of the moss and triggs reports. If you tacitly support child abuse and concurrently undermine the role of medical professionals in caring within the community, you cannot subsequently be entrusted to carry out any public role. You are not good enough in my opinion to hold office.
There is no justification that can be made for child abuse, state institutions cannot countenance and should not stay silent on child abuse that happens on their watch. If as a politician or party you go so low on such a fundamental issue then what would you not do?
So for me, personal ethics in politics counts above all else and this point cannot be avoided or conveniently excused (remember the only apparent reason for supporting this child abuse is just to keep yourself in a job).
So for me, I can only vote for a politician who has made a clear public stand on the right side of both these two fundamental items.
That means a future vote for a candidate (not a party) whose credentials are proven on standing up uncompromisingly for the welfare of those for whom we are responsible, or perhaps a new candidate who is clear on these issues. Failing that a conscience vote for the Green party who have consistently and honestly championed the rights of those without a voice will be my only choice. Let the rest of the candidates be damned, I will not vote for a best of the rest candidate or party devoid of moral backbone, this approach only guarantees a further race to the bottom.
Although this approach of voting for the candidate may seem pointless perhaps there is a very slim hope that it wmay encourage better politicians to prosper over time and break up the lib/lab cosy (if this is ever feasible). Even if it produces only one or two new politician s this will be a result. Think 3 Andrew wilkies or a greens party with a dozen seats keeping the rest honest if nothing else until the next visionary leader comes to the fore.
A vote purely on party lines other is support for a status quo that implies we are happy with politicians continuing to feed at the trough fed with children’s lives and the abuse of those human beings less fortunate than the rest.
Excellent, brief and too the point! And Labour there are other ways!! Spell out your plans for pro active regional centres ; taking a greater number of refugees in a humane way but recognising that not all refugees have an easy organised option.
Get with the Indonesians and bring refugees here collectively and thus make the ” smugglers” irrelevant .
There isn’t much difference between the ALP conservative MP’s and Senators and the Coalition Members of Parliament. Where is any visible moral fortitude in their views? Where is any compassion? That they are in the wrong party is obvious and because of them the past glory that the ALP had has dissipated into the chase for votes. Shame shame shame.
Whilst all speakers, on both sides, spoke of compassion and care at the Labour Party Conference today it is this speech and many others made by Julian Burnside that remains the most convincing. How dare politicians make decisions when they have not seen the treatment of people in detention. It is every politician’s business to go there and highlight what is wrong with the current detention and off shore processing systems. I agree with Julian Burnside, Labour have been too quiet about the dispicable, unlawful actions of this government. They are playing popular politics because they don’t want this to be the point of difference between the parties at the next election. Voting to silence people who have worked in these places is shameful and allowing the atrocities to continue makes me ashamed to be Australian. If Julian Burnside did what Malcolm Fraser suggested should happen, form a new political party, he would have an enormous following. Keeping it simple – he has already set out a great way to manage an Australian response to what is a massive refugee crisis around the world in a humane and productive way; we need a complete shift to investment in renewable energies and closing down of coal fields; we need improved public transport in every capital city of Australia; we need fair funding of schools and hospitals. We need to stop spending money on Border force security and detention.
Sadly I agree with almost every word in Julian Burnside’s speech. Somehow we, the Australian people, have allowed ourselves to be persuaded that saving people from drowning at sea by discouraging them from getting on dangerous boats justifies sending them to Manus & Nauru with no hope of getting to Australia.
To me it feels as though sending them offshore is a convenient case of ‘out of sight, out of mind.’
I have written to numerous politicians about my concerns about our bipartisan policies since December. The only ones to reply were Sarah Hanson-Young and, after three months, Richard Marles, on behalf of Bill Shorten.
I believe that our politicians are not only failing the asylum seekers but they are also letting us, the electorate, down.
I am deeply saddened when I read that so many of us have been lulled into supporting the ‘Stop the boats’ rhetoric. It is not the people I believed we were.
A brave and potent truth. Congratulations and thank you, Mr Burnside. It needs to be said.
Bill is SHORT ON for confidence in the basic decency of Australians … if not for that he would more aggressively push for more decent policy that covers all the bases of protecting Aus from the 5% or so of false claimant refugees … whilst not devastating the already shattered lives of the approx 95% innocent majority who come begging for some small glimpse of hope. Shorten is counting on the fear and hate whipped into a frenzy by Howard, stirred on by following governments including Labor, and fanned into a divisive flame by Abbot and Morrison and henchmen …. it’s like McCarthyism in the ‘Red under the bed’ era …. the only good reffo is a dead ‘un? Shorten is counting on an appeal to the Left/Green element on renewables for Oz …. we’ll be the Mr Clean of the region under Billy Boy ….. WHILST he also wants to sustain the evil ‘turn back’ that has been set up …. he is playing the “scab is already loose and bleeding” game … he thinks, Hey, the dumb electorate are already enured to the evil … Abbot has copped the hate mail … I can just get by with a bit of criticism then they’ll go back to sleep, meanwhile I’ll distract them with renewables …. LABOR IN 2016/17 election win would mean GOVERNMENT WILL BE …. LNP IN DIFFERENT RAGS … same evils … same rhetoric about terror … same standover governnance … same abuse of the weakest …. and a few carrots to make the dumb horse think its happy. Coal mining will proceed …. as it is in Qld under Labor , no resistance to Adani Galilee Basin and Barrier Reef threat. Refugees will still be imprisoned … secretive decisions NOW made THE NORM will continue …. we have turned a corner here Australia. IF LABOR IS TO GOVERN IT MUST BE ELECTED ON AN OPPOSITION POLICY LED BY A CHANGE MERCHANT …. NOT A MIRROR IMAGE REFLECTION LED BY AN EXPEDIENCY POWER BROKER. If Shorten is a decent leader he will stand for traditional values of the grass roots … he will put to the people of Australia some leadership in the direction that mainstream Australia wants to go …. he will express confidence in the so-called Labor movement and will lead it back to basic human decency … instead of this blatant prostitution we see in his behaviour. No surprise though, a man who conspired and undermined TWO PMs is not to be expected to have and ethical platform, not even a bone in his body of ethics. Anthony Albanese is the man who SHOULD have led Labor but again, once the back room boys had their way, he was neutered …. much as Turnbull was knifed in the Licentious Nazi party …. sadly Turnbull has turned out to be a fizzer … HERE IS HOPING THAT THIS WEEKEND THE LABOR PARTY WILL POLITICALLY KNIFE SHORTEN AND PUT ALBO IN CHARGE …. AND OFFER SOME SMALL HOPE TO THE NATION THAT DECENCY AND HUMANITY MAY BECOME AGAIN RELEVANT IN THE BODY POLITIC IN OZ…. it sure seems extinct just now. Unless we have a real and representative Labor Party, not that I am a traditional Labor voter at all … far from it …. BUT unless that force exists, this nation is going down the sewer fast. The Greens have insufficient power and candidly lack credibility alone …. we must see Labor return to some values, and earn support from Greens by a genuine co-operation IF NOT coalition. WHY NOT HAVE A CO-ALITION OF LABOR AND GREENS TO SAVE THIS NATION …. AND GET RID OF THE NAZI COAL-ALITION THAT TORTURES HUMAN LIVES … BOTH REFUGEES AS WELL AS PENSIONERS, DISABLED, WEAK, FRAIL, HUNGRY …!????
WELL DONE.!!!!!! This says everything that us poor ineffective voters cannot seem to get through to the ones that matter. HOW ON EARTH CAN WE CHANGE FROM THIS DESPICABLE APOLOGY OF A SO CALLED GOVERNMENT TO ONE THAT TRULY REPRESENTS US.We feel desperately sad that Australia has sunk so low. Where does Nick Xenaphon stand on this as we believe him to have compassion and integrity and would truly speak for the majority of very disillusioned Aussies.
I agree with all you say Ade,except about Albo. He never passes an opportunity to call Greens ‘looneys’. The reason? Probably because Labor Left leaches to the Greens. The problem is that now he has no social licence to advocate for the main issues that the Greens advocate for, i.e the environment and asylum seekers. I mean if he became leader would he suddenly announce that Greens aren’t looneys after all, and the environment is all-important? He’s done enormous damage to the environmental movement over the year with his comments.
I so agree with the above comments. The labor party is like weakly made herbal tea , no body and no strength. Either you care about people, their welfare, health, their safety. The present government is certainly, the worst and cruelest in the country’s history.
Absolutely spot on. I have been a swinging voter for 8 years now and every time I voted for the LNP I got screwed over. I believe in the Labor philosophy but haven’t seen it for a very long time. I just call them Lib 1 and Lib 2 these days.
I am happy to vote Independent, however if their preferences just end up in the pockets of the major parties, then why bother to vote for them.
I am at a loss, and always have been, to know why the boat issue is such a major issue. Desperate people need to be assisted and processed quickly as to their right for asylum. Other countries do it in weeks – not years. It has bought our reputation down almost to the lowest ranks.
Good onya Julian
As a nation of, other than full blood indigenous Australians, descendants of criminals and economic ‘refugees’ we have descended to total hypocrisy as a nation in the way we treat people seeking refuge and a better way of life. It seems evident that the only way to avoid desperate, frustrated people paying people to get them to Australin soil is to have fast efficient processing in refugee camps throughout the region…surely cheaper as well, than supporting concentration type camps indefinitely. I wish I could vote for Nick Xenophon as he seems one of the very few whose personal integrity rarely wavers. Recent Labor concessions to in humane LP policies is appalling.
Thankyou for your tireless work Julian Burnside. I admire, applaude and support your words and work. What more can I do?
Start writing to politicians, but consider doing it according to the little guide I have included above, at http://www.julianburnside.com.au/write-to-federal-mps-about-refugee-policy/
Two-Party Politics maintains a status quo that simply keeps theses people in well paid jobs with perks that make ordinary employment look like feudal servitude. Their ONLY bipartisanship is in maintaining the status quo by jointly attacking any third party that makes inroads into their domain of self a entitlement, such as The Greens now, and Australian Democrats previously.
Australia is sorely in need of a alternative political party that requires party officeholders be signatories to affirmed shared values and commitment to ideals that cannot be “horse-traded” as in the current system, and that applies contractual obligation to honesty, transparency, and commitment to the well-being of our planet, our country, our nation, every Australian, as well as leading the world toward integrated human co-operation, values, and understanding.
Julian Burnside is dead on the money. Labor stands for nothing but a weaker version of the abomination of a government we have already got. They are too scared to face the xenophobes and bigots and actually stand for what is morally right. Instead of standing straight and believing and articulating their position they have caved to Abbott’s poisoned politics. The Australian public (the decent compassionate people that is) are CRAVING leadership and a genuine alternative. They want to see a government that is humane and responsible in its policies, that cares about the future of our youth, that cares about society as a whole and not just the wealthy elite, that cares about education, innovation, industry and setting this nation up for a sustainable future. Instead we get self serving trough snufflers more concerned about themselves than the nation they are being paid handsomely to serve. I have never given much of a toss about politics until the Abbott era. Now I am consumed by horror with their actions, with the casual arrogance and disregard with which they treat the Australian public. The blantant and poorly disguised lies, pathetic excuses and intellectually insulting argument. They are an affront to us. There are too few Julian Burnsides willing to stand up and be heard. The gutless wonder era.
Well Julian if you focus on only one policy area you’re correct: not a ciggy paper’s width. Ditto marriage equality.
However this conference HAS produced one stark distinction between the Tweddle Brothers: one wants to pay our taxes to carbon emitters who choose to spend them reducing emissions. The other Tweedle now promises an ETS which it is true is not a tax.
So I will be voting ALP or at least preferencing it . And so will you Julian.
Let’s start with “stop the secrecy” . Surely it is possible to limit entry without lies and cruelty. If it is not, I can only say”God help us, we have lost our collective soul”.
I have been a labor supporter and voter since I first voted in the early 80s but I can no longer sit by and watch them become a mirror of the Liberal Party especially when they are the worst government in Australia’s history. I hated the Howard government with a passion as I dislike the man himself but Abbott has gone beyond that and so too has Bill Shorten, he has turned the labor Party into a disgrace and an embarrassment, but then again it is embarrassing to be an Australian at the moment. After the fights in melbourne last week I was astonished that not one leader/ politician came out and said that this was unexceptable behaviour. That sort of leaves you questioning the state of this country and how far we have come since the 80s and early 90s, and i don’t mean positively either.
Thank you Julian for standing up to the shameful state of Labor politics. I know there are many good people in the ALP who must be horrified at the direction the party is heading. I suggest they dump Labor and vote Green, the only party that is both intellectually and morally fit to govern in 21st century Australia.
Thank you Julian for speaking the truth and standing up for what is right. There are no leaders left in Canberra only sycophants to focus groups who take us all down to the values of the most cynic and mean spirited in our society and without leadership we have nothing.
Could not agree more, Julian. I also agree with Noelene and Ade above. I am despairing- who the heck are we going to vote for?! Intelligent, compassionate Australians are between a rock and a hard place. Bill Shorten should have been having an absolute field day with the hypocritical, narcissistic, grossly incompetent clowns we currently have leading the country- but atrocity after hypocrisy after gaffe and not a peep out of him! Where is the leadership?! Where are the morals? The LNP represent every characteristic I despise- greed, environmental destruction for monetary gain, narcissism, manipulation, hypocrisy, bigotry, all appealing to the uneducated and those with similar characteristics. And absolutely no true alternative in sight. What do we do?!!
I have to agree with all the comments made above including the speech by Julian Burnside. I am a Labor member but am so disgusted by their actions or lack of that has left me Gob smacked. They have not got an original thought and are just following Abbott’s policies like meek little lambs
!!!! Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, no difference between the two parties. What has happened to Labor values? They have gone as Labor has shifted so far to the right its laughable. Good God what is going to happen to our Great Country and its people? Abbott is corrupting the people’s thoughts by engendering fear, silencing dissent and allowing multinational companies to destroy our environment not to mention the lack of action on climate change and Labor is following meekly and allowing this all to happen without as much as a convincing objection. Talk about selling us out.
Thank you for your analysis. I am tired of all pollies saying this is a complex problem, yet having no idea about how to articulate this, Labor or Conservative. It is indeed a sad day in Australia, when Labor adheres to the Government’s god-awful policies… and why? to neutralize this area of policy in order to win power. Yes indeed, who in Labor has visited Detention Centres? The Greens have, those dreadful way-out, bleeding-hearts (of which I am one). These are sad days methinks, Sandy
What has led to this political and moral vacuum in our country? From one of the greatest nations with a history that stood us apart in the world, we have become a group of uneducated, unfeeling law breakers. I don’t care if you are left or right but at least show some humanity, some decency. At least uphold the principles and laws to which you are a party.
Australia under the two worst Governments in our history, Howard and Abbott, has lost any sense of collective decency, and any act of morality and independence. A puppet on the world stage and a cruel and nasty one at that. I find myself, for the first time in my life, ashamed of my country. Ashamed not just for its lacklustre opposition who willingly side with the right wing, but ashamed of the people who once reached out a hand to those in need yet now turn thier backs and willingly support policies of denial and of pain and suffering to others. I never thought I would see the day when this country would become so full of cold and heartless people. Thankfully done voices of reason still resonate in public debate, the burnsides, the pilgers and the like. But they are lovely candles of hope in an ever darkening wind which is blowing across this once great nation.
The tragedy of having to vote for the least offensive party is really compounded by the lack of any real visionary leadership. It will have to be the Greens for me now……..
Thank you Julian for your continued advocacy for those seeking asylum in Australia. You act out of courage compassion and humanity. I abhore the stance of the current government and even more so the cynical weak response of the Labour Party you should be ashamed of yourselves. Unfortunately I will no longer be able to give the Labour Party my vote. I will not sanction this horrific abuse of human rights.
The Labor Party needs to be exposed for the forfeiting of its core values for short-term political gains. There are key people within the Labor Party who are more interested in furthering their own political ambitions than anything to do with social justice. Bill Shorten is one of them. He has become a right-wing mouthpiece with no connection to true Labor values, and the quicker he is recycled, the better.
Leading a political party should not be about winning elections at any cost. One would hope that the men and women who enter politics do so because of deep convictions and the need to create a better world. Spending millions of dollars of taxpayers to make vulnerable displaced people suffer even more is perhaps one of the most despicable ways to abuse the trust placed in you by the electorate.
Both parties are culpable and incapable of coming to terms with key issues.
I am appalled by the treatment of asylum seekers and human rights violations. I am also appalled that no politician will deal with the same sorts of abuses meter out to innocent Australians. This is a cover up of mammoth proportions. The ATO is a unilateral “secret society” that is destroying innocent Australians and their families. Suicide is a very common outcome once people are bullied and pursued (to their deaths).
Just some of the comments sent to me regarding this behaviour:
“Sorry to hear the ATO destroyed your life they did the same to me lost my wife kids and i never did anything wrong they just caught out my accountant on a technicality, if the transaction was 3 weeks later no tax would have applied.So i got hit with huge fines and interest. Developed depression suicidal thoughts 30 years of my life gone. If you have a group that has similar experiences i woud be willing to meet up and discuss class actions or something i dont know.They are a mafia. Regards B.”
“Still the same the Ato keep giving me the run around I am constantly abused been called a liar I’m so over it there are days I want to end my life the government is corrupt do u have any suggestions”
“I take my hat off to you and I wish u well in ur case. I too lost my business, health, home and marriage , all because I was bullied by ato, told I owe $300000 , 90k credited the day I was in court, and some how my tax bill was reduced to $4k , not sure y and how. What is funny thou, it was an ATO officer who told me there was an error , and in fact , they owed me money, I needed to send in some information.. which I did, but sat on someone’s desk and well It was all too late, I served to go to court and every case that day against ATO , they won. Corrupt judge. but I can not fix things anymore and I can no longer take the abuse and harassment. Good luck”
Ade has expressed my sentiments. While I personally agree that Bill Shorten has been a disaster as a leader, he can’t be totally blamed for the spine-less way the Labour Party overall has reacted to serious issues like Refugee Policy and Climate Change. There are still decent individuals (Albanese, Plibasek, Wong) and hopefully they will seriously consider Ade’s proposal of forming a Labour Green Coalition as this may be the only way back from the abyss.
Julian Burnside has said what soo many fine Labor voters are thinking and despairing about. They can only bring back decent Labor values by applying pressure from the left. They can only do this from outside the Labor Party and the only place to go is the Greens or progressive independents. Imagine a hung Parliament with Greens/progressive independent balance of power.
The.Labor Party could then move back to and ethical social justice pass and leave the coalition stranded on the right.
When labour chases the coalition to the right it will always lose. It just encourages the coalition to become more outrageously cruel and totalitarian. If you are a voter loyal to labour values, vote greens or progressive independence and show them what matters. That is the only way you can restore your sick party to Hills.
My previous comment escaped unedited. Here is the edited version which might make some sense.
Julian Burnside has said what many fine Labor voters are thinking and despairing about. They can only bring back decent Labor values by applying pressure from the left. They can only do this from outside the Labor Party and the only place to go is the Greens or progressive independents. Imagine a hung Parliament with Greens/progressive independents holding the balance of power.
The.Labor Party could then move back onto an ethical social justice path and leave the coalition stranded on the right.
When labour chases the coalition to the right it will always lose. It just encourages the coalition to become more outrageously cruel and totalitarian. If you are a voter loyal to labor values, vote for the Greens or a progressive independence and show the Labor Party that the old Labor values really matter. That is the only way you can restore your sick party to health.
I totally agree with Julian Burnside’s speech. Disheartening that both parties lack people of integrity, strength & decency – sends such a poor message to the rest of the world.
Thank you Julian Burnside. Well put. I’m ashamed that this state of affairs, this absolute cruelty, has been mandated by our parliament. The legislation has nothing to do with ‘saving lives’. That is a convenient posture, which fools no one. An asylum seeker flees from his/her country to save their life, and to make one elsewhere, where there is a chance for a Fair Go…Unfortunately, Australia has lost that label completely. To reflect on my own story, my grandfather was a boat person, leaving Plymouth early last century, fleeing starvation in Ireland. He wasn’t stopped. His family grew, prospered, peopled Australia with hard workers. I am a ‘boat person’. I just happen to be born here. So I see no sense in taking some high moral ground, or claiming ownership of this land. We took it, without consent. We imposed a totally different culture on the indigenous population who struggled for generations to survive and many are still struggling. We have little to be proud of, except that some of the Australian population share the view that what the government of this country is doing to asylum seekers is totally unacceptable. It started with the MV Tampa and it’s just worsened with each year. There are no words to express just how disappointed I feel.
“But we also have the least effective Opposition in living memory.”
Too bloody right!
“… a lot of people … must be wondering whether either of the major parties is worth voting for. In my opinion, they aren’t. There was a time when Labor stood for something. If it still stands for anything, it has been conspicuously quiet on the matter.”
Give the man a medal!
Needless to say, they didn’t listen. They didn’t listen to me when I threatened that allowing certain legislation to pass would end my support of them, either.
I wonder what the chances are that we can do as the Canadians have, and, being as disillusioned as they are with their Liberal opposition, elect the third party to official opposition status and have them, in three more years, threaten to win power for the first time in history. That might shake the foundations of complacency in Canberra.
Frankly, it is the only option I see open to me.
I agree with this article and I have a few questions for this government,
As a single mum of one who goes to a private school he is 8
We live in a rental which is $300 a week.
Now since my son turned eight I was cut off parenting payment and put on newstart
I currently get $900 fortnightly
$600 rent
$ 200 school fees
Leaves me not much and I’m meant to find a job between school hours Monday to Friday
I have no family support here no dad for my child
So on weekends should I just leave my son at home by himself while I work as I also don’t have a car should I let my little boy risk getting kidnapped walking 9 blocks home from school if something happens to him who do I blame
Also how can I afford food and transport to get to work?
Find me a job that doesn’t want me to work weekends
I understand 12 is old enough to walk and stay home alone while I work but 8 seriously?
Seems like we’re getting pushed into community housing which may I add I’ll probably be dead by the time I get approved for one.
The next generation of single parent children will all follow the same path
Yay we get child care benefits I really use that
It’s the government’s fault we’re about to be homeless now.
There needs to be an overhaul and review of this government.
The single mothers that reap the system will just have another baby every 6 years that’s not targeting the problem I’m copping it and all I care about is making my sons life worth living thanks for judging so swiftly
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