Weep the lucky country

The threat to Australia is not from terrorism but from the fear of it, an irrational fear, which has led to the demonization of so called people smugglers and boat people. On this issue both sides of politics play to the lowest common political denominator. Why? Is it xenophobia, racism or both? The number of people coming by boat is insignificant; they do not have the money to come by plane and as the book shows, the majority have made exemplary citizens, in most cases better than their irrational critics.

Bowen, Morrison, Abbott, Pell, Jensen, Howard, Rudd and Gillard should read this book. It will give them an understanding into real compassion, commitment, humanity and loyalty and maybe then they will become advocates for Ali and others who carry his cross. Howard famously said, in spite of Australian law and UN Conventions which Australia signed, that he would decide who came to Australia and when. Provincial arrogance, the world is a far more complex environment than Howard was able to grasp.

Rudd infamously and immaturely said, "People smugglers are the vilest form of human life, they trade on the tragedy of others, and that is why they should rot in jail and, in my own view, rot in hell." Whatever it took, but it didn't work to keep Rudd and nor will it work for Gillard.

Some people smugglers, like some politicians are bad and some are good. They exist because of need. The source of the problem lies in the home countries of refugees. People do not leave home on a whim; they do not put themselves in danger for a better job. Vanstone and Ruddock, on ABC JJJ the other night, were prepared to trot out the same old gutless platitudes to protect their past flawed decisions. They had not read the book. I suggest they do before making fools of themselves, yet again, in the public domain.

Ali will get there sooner than later with friends like Robin De Crespigny, Ngareta Rossell, Steven Blanks, John and Trish Highfield, Sister Aileen Crow and the thousands of others who will now join with him as a result of the book, the likes of which I have not read for a long time.

Bruce Haigh is a political commentator, former diplomat and retired people smuggler. He was in Afghanistan during the war with the Soviet Union. He has been involved with refugees since his first posting to Pakistan in 1972, until his last in Sri Lanka in 1994. From 1995 to 2000 he was a Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal. His experience is that DFAT, Immigration and other Commonwealth departments do not give a Tinkers Cuss about refugees. Bruce helped many people escape from apartheid South Africa. He believes, there but for the grace of God go I.