---

@lind9650 wrote:

Why is it that asylum seekers that arrive here by ricketty boats, get the best treatment they would never receive in their own country, but still complain about not getting enough?

 

Have any of you considered that even after 10 years in detention in Malaysia, they still have tens of thousands of dollars to pay the people smugglers?

 

Something does not add up for me.

 

OK, Australia is a big country, but only a small part is inhabitable. We have only 22m people here and only a quarter or less is working and paying taxes. That is very little revenue the Government gets compared to other countries, to spend on resettling refugees.

 

No, I was not born here. I came from a war torn country 55 years ago. Waited my turn to come here legally and had to live in Bonnegilla pennyless until I found a job and made enough money to rent a house for my family.

There were no handouts or mollycoddling from the Government.

Am I biased? Yes, I am, and I am a proud naturalised Australian citicen.

My father told me before I left for this beautiful country; "You go to a new world, you have to learn the language, the laws of the land and the customs, and assimilate if you want to make it your home for the rest of your life.

 

How many assylum seekers assimilate here after being granted to stay?

 

I am all for helping needy people, but when they start demanding more than one can give, my compassion vanes drastically.

 

Erica

---

Hi Erica

I can relate to some of what you said.  My mum came here as a political refugee.  Long story short, she ended up in Austria and from there was accepted by Australia as a refugee.  After arrival, she stayed at the Endevour Migrant Hostel in Coogee.  I came 2 yrs later. During the first couple of years, we rented a private accommodation.  A tiny bedsitter, sleeping in the same bed.  The room was mould-ridden, my mother developed chronic bronchitis.  When an identical room became available on the floor above, we were able to move in there. Mould was no longer the problem but it was incredibly hot  LOL. 

I also left my dad behind, and he told me a similar thing.  I know it was difficult for him to let me go, I was an only child.  I couldn't wait to receive the first letter from him, unfortunately, most of it was blacked-out by the censors.  He wouldn't have written anything political, he knew better than that.  Perhaps he wanted to tell me  he was lucky enough to buy some sugar.

Looking back at the first couple of yrs here, I can see how some people would describe our living conditions as  "appalling", yet, I was grateful.

I think a lot of the criticism about Australia's refugee policies is unwarranted. We are  part of a small number of countries participating in the UNHCR resettlement programs.  There must be more countries who are capable of resettling more refugees.  I know the EU was working towards involving more member states. It will never be enough and in the  meantime someone has to make the decisions about who deserves a  better life and I'm not sure its fair to be criticising them without understanding the process.