Rapid processing would reduce boat people costs
An election flyer from the Liberal Party informing us about the "cost of Labor's illegal boat arrivals" was dropped in our letter box today.
This was estimated at $6.6 billion described as "of your taxes wasted".
There are no illegal boats and no illegal refugees.
This is so well known that using these terms can only be described as a deliberate falsehood.
Checking the figures on the internet, I came across the following recent Bigpond-AMP website: http://www.bigpondmoney.com.au/illegal-boat-arrivals-what-it-really-costs.
The same falsehoods here, playing on xenophobic sentiments.
Commentators expressed surprise and anger.
The leaflet's content was authorised by Liberal Party Senator Arthur Sinodinos, a former chief of staff of former Prime Minister John Howard.
An overwhelming number of boat arrivals are genuine refugees and should be integrated in the community as soon as possible.
The arrivals are mostly inevitable no matter what party is in power.
To reduce the cost, rapid processing and integration in the community is essential.
Email, 10 Apr 2013
Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach