The "challenge" was set forth by the Rudd government when it said in a recent newspaper article [1] that "There's no end in sight when it comes to asylum seekers". Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans said that it will be a "challenge" to keep pace with the expected influx of illegal immigrants.

This comes on the back of a story reported on the same day [2] that a boat with 194 people (almost all men) was intercepted off Christmas Island. So far this year 711 illegals have arrived at our doorstep and the bulk of those after the softening of the detention regime by the Rudd government. This latest large boat load also puts paid to the pro-illegal immigration proponent's mantra that we don't need to worry about only a 'few hundred' illegals arriving by boat per year. What will be next, a cruise liner? The real cost is hidden by the numbers, because the illegals are always almost all men who once they attain Australian residency will seek to import the rest of their relatives. A few hundred can easily become a few thousand!

On 24th June it was reported [3] that Senators Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon were to vote with the government on a bill that would see the abolition of detention debts for refugees and waive outstanding debts leaving the Australian taxpayer $9 million out of pocket.

Given that it was reported in The Australian [4] newspaper that processing costs about $38,000 per illegal immigrant, the latest arrival of 194 will set the Australian taxpayer back about $7 million. On top of those costs are the ongoing costs of the Australian refugee industry and the high social costs Australians must pay in terms of increased violence and serious crime.

The further weakening of our laws on illegal immigration will become an unbearable burden on hard working Australians and will jeopardise our security. The Australian Protectionist Party demands that the federal government takes a more pro-active and responsible approach to stopping illegal immigration instead of just rolling out the red carpet. Australians should not have to meet the "challenge" of funding illegal immigration at the expense of their own future.



References:
Immigration says 'no end' to boat people, Daily Telegraph, 29 June 2009.
Boat crowded with 194 people intercepted of WA coast, The Age, 29 June 2009.
Detention fees for asylum seeker set to be abolished, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2009.
Detention centre revamp in budge as latest boat arrives, The Australian, 12 May 2009.

2nd July 2009