Year 10: Immigration

1. An asylum seeker is a person who has fled their own country and applies to the government of another country for protection as a refugee. According to the United Nations Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (the Refugee Convention), a refugee is a person who is outside their own country and is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted.

2. They are generally in fear of being persecuted because of their:

• race
• religion
• nationality
• membership of a particular social group
• political opinion.

3. Humanitarian Program, aims to:

• assist people in humanitarian need overseas for whom resettlement in another country is the only available option; and
• comply with Australia's international obligations onshore under the Refugee Convention.

The program has two main parts: off-shore resettlement and on-shore protection.

4. There are about 9.7 million refugees around the world. Asia hosts more than one third of the world's refugees (3.6 million), followed by Africa (3.1 million), Europe (2.2 million) and North America (0.58 million).

Questions:

1. What is the deal between Australia and Malaysia? (What are the numbers of people being 'swapped'?) Send 800 asylum seakers in exchange for 4000 refugees
2. What rights will they have in Malaysia which will allow them to support themselves? The deal states they will be treated with rights and respect, under normal human rights.
3. How does Malaysia normally treat illegal immigrants? They normally treat illegal immigrants terribly by sending them to special "holding" centres if they are found working in illegal factories.
4. Are children being sent to Malaysia? Children will be sent but will be entitled to education and basic human rights
5. What is going to happen to the processing of the 500+ people currently in Australia who have arrived from the 7th of May? Will now be processed in Australia. They will have their claims processed in Australia.
6. What do refugee advocates worry about for the 800 asylum seekers? They are put in harms way in the future, which can't be ruled out.
7. What is the goal of this 'swap' program? The goal of this swap program is to rid Australia of any illegal immigrants(asylum seakers) and to bring in legitimate refugees who deserve a better lifestyle.
8. Do you think that it will work? Why/why not? I dont feel it will work because if Mrs Gillard can't control and guarantee safety of her own people in Malaysia how can she guarantee the safety of 800 asylum seekers.