blank

Thanks to the decisions of Australia’s courts and lawyers acting pro-bono for asylum seekers, Australia is stuck with 400 asylum seekers who had parked themselves in Australia when they were transferred from Manus Island and Nauru to seek medical treatment. The federal government did not have any legal avenue available to send them back. But they were determined to stand by their policy that no person who came illegally to Australia by boat would be allowed to settle in Australia.

This is why two weeks ago the federal government made the decision to cut off government income and accommodation support to these asylum seekers. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton hit back at these lawyers acting pro-bono for these asylum seekers calling them ‘un-Australian’. The current border protection policy has strong support in the Australian community and despite the howls of the left and media the government had no hesitation taking this tough measure.

This course of action by the government also had the effect of once again exposing federal Labor’s weakness on border protection with Bill Shorten opposing the measure calling it the government’s “weakest move yet”. It would appear that Labor’s soft approach on this issue filters down to their state parties as well.

No more is this evident than by the action taken today by Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews. He loves to virtue signal on social justice issues, but unfortunately for Victorians this often includes giving out large amounts of taxpayers’ money.

In response to the federal government’s recent decision Daniel Andrews’ announced today his government would be giving the 100 asylum seekers affected by this policy in Victoria $600,000 to cover housing, living expenses and support services. Daniel Andrews stated, “Malcolm Turnbull might be prepared to stand by and let these families starve while they wait to leave Australia – but we won’t.”

Many Victorians could think of much better uses of this money than spending it on people who aren’t even Australian citizens and have broken the law to come here in the first place. There are plenty of Victorians in need such and plenty of other areas of state government jurisdiction that are in needs of funds. Maybe put the money into extra police resources to help with Victoria’s crime wave which ironically is being driven by those who have recently arrived in the state.

Andrews’ course of action not just wastes taxpayers’ money but also undermines our border security. Daniel Andrews is basically saying to future asylum seekers and therefore the people smugglers even if the federal government cuts off funds to you when you manage find a route through our courts to stay in Australia our state government will foot the bill. This is the sort of lax border policy we can expect from federal Labor if they are to win the next election.

Daniel Andrews of course has form on virtue signalling on not just this issue but other social justice causes. He previously wrote to Malcolm Turnbull to say Victoria would take in asylum seekers from Nauru. He also wrote again to Malcolm Turnbull urging him to cancel the plebiscite on same sex marriage. Now that the plebiscite is proceeding Andrews pledged $500,000 to LGBTQ counselling and support services during the plebiscite.

Daniel Andrews has also been busy exploring ways for the Victorian Government to have a treaty with Indigenous Victorians and also sat by and done nothing while two inner city Melbourne councils voted to dump Australia Day with many more councils considering such a course of action.

This type of action should appal all Victorians, not just because of the waste of their money but also the undermining it has on Australia’s border security. But it is unlikely Daniel Andrews’ will listen to the voices of ordinary Victorians, he will get praise for this action from the media and cultural elite which is all he is interested in. Victorians sadly have to wait until November 2018 until they can stop this regressive leader wreaking their state.

Author Details
Tim Wilms is the Founder and Editor in Chief of https://theunshackled.net. the Host of Tim’s News Explosion, the WilmsFront interview program and The Theorists with Andy Nolch. He based in Melbourne, Australia where he also conducts field reports.
×
blank
Tim Wilms is the Founder and Editor in Chief of https://theunshackled.net. the Host of Tim’s News Explosion, the WilmsFront interview program and The Theorists with Andy Nolch. He based in Melbourne, Australia where he also conducts field reports.