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Journalism of Courage
CANBERRA, July 1: Right-wing populist political leader Pauline Hanson unveiled her immigration policies on Wednesday, saying refugees would be kicked out of Australia when “the troubles” in their homeland were over.Hanson told mediapersons that Australia’s present intake of 12,000 refugees a year could be maintained by her One Nation party but said this would be achieved under new, more stringent rules including deportation.
In a separate news conference, Immigration Minister Philipruddock denounced One Nation’s immigration policy, saying “it is a document that is about dividing Australia rather than uniting the country.” “It does not do us any good as a nation to be pushing them aside and saying that you are not as Australian as the rest of us,” Ruddock said. “What they are indulging in here is a clear sham.”
At present, Australia generally allows people who are accepted as refugees to stay permanently, if they wish to do so. But under One Nation’s proposed policy, once peace is re-established in the refugees’ country of origin, they would be expected to return to it. A reporter asked if this meant Bosnian refugees would be returned to Bosnia. Hanson did not reply.
She said that children of refugees would not obtain Australian citizenship merely by living in this country. When asked if a refugee could apply for citizenship, for example after five years, Hanson replied “yes” but was immediately rebutted by Spencer. “I think that they’re here on temporary residence until the problem is solved,” Spencer said.
