Rubber Stamp

The term ‘rubber stamp’ is often used in the media to signify an automatic pass.  A ‘no questions asked’ authorisation by the powers that be.  A pre-arranged deal with the hint of corruption or cronyism.  Something of a done deal and of no value.

I have been the recipient of a rubber stamp which fundamentally changed my life.  I came across an old passport (my first) lately that has led me to contemplate the charmed life I have been privileged to lead.

This rubber stamp is one of the most sought after impressions of smudged ink ever.  Many people in the world would value it far more valuable than a Picasso painting.  And I got it free with little effort.

“Permitted to remain in Australia”.  Clear and simple.  It was the best thing I ever did to apply for permanent residency to Australia.  The only condition was that I had to have an x-ray to determine that I didn’t have TB.  Paid for by the government.  I didn’t have TB.  The rest of the application was automatic.  I have since extended that to apply for and be granted citizenship so I can now stand for any elected position and run the country.  Dear readers, you don’t have to worry about that possibility.  The last thing I would want to do is plunge into the cess pit of politics.  But I do reflect on how open and welcoming Australia was to me.  In 1973 it was the most amazing frontier challenging me to make a place for myself, or even to survive the harsh outback conditions.  I spent 2 years doing mineral exploration in some of the remotest places in the country.

And now people arriving here are treated so harshly.  Slammed up on Christmas Island, or incarcerated on Nauru.  I was an economic refugee.  Carefully calculating my chances of the best lifestyle from my best options available which were many, including all Commonwealth countries.  The people who arrive by boats are refugees that have carefully calculated their options from the least worst options available. Do not underestimate their efforts to search for an acceptable outcome for their families when their home countries become untenable or lethal.  They are absolutely driven from their homeland.  They well know the dangers that await them in sea passages in leaking overcrowded boats. They may starve, they may be killed, but while they have an ounce of energy in them, they will try to bring their families to a safe place.  I was an economic refugee, not driven by dire need, but by choice.  I had the option to live in many countries and New Zealand is so beautiful I almost stayed there.

So I was admitted to Australia on the first day without question or background checks to see if I was a convicted axe-murderer in my home country.  Now it takes years of processing to determine if refugees are ‘worthy’ of some kind of conditional visa.  They are imprisoned in terrible circumstances for traumatic, life-robbing years to await their outcome.  Which might be to reject and deport them back to a country with a long memory of their sins such as commenting on the ruling elite.  Do I think these people if given the chance would contribute to Australia?  You bet.  Just let them work for the betterment of their family and you would see unceasing effort.

So it is all too clear what is the cost to the refugees who dare to approach our coast.  What is the cost to Australia?  First and most obvious is $2,000,000 a year per detainee that it takes to fund the ‘Pacific solution’.  Is that insane or what?  A family of four $8,000,000 a year.  If we lavished the best housing, English teaching, cultural orientation, education, spa baths, overseas holidays, daily massages and expensive manicure jobs on them it wouldn’t cost a fraction of that.  But instead it seems that the government is dead set on inflicting punishment on them for coming here.  To demonstrate to the world a ‘deterrent effect’ not unlike the Spanish inquisition.  And neither side of politics can claim the moral high ground here.  It’s a race to the bottom.  Meanwhile, the bulk of refugees are hosted by countries with inadequate resources such as Jordan, Kenya, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan and Chad.  Do you know what the GDP of Chad is?  No me neither, but I’m betting it’s not much.  So Australia’s stance on refugees seems to the world to be so mean spirited, so xenophobic, that is it sure to come back and bite us in the bum.

Which brings me back to my feelings about current policies towards refugees.  I feel guilty that what was granted to me who had no need, is denied to those now in great need.  Survivor guilt.  I feel a great lack of compassion in our political leadership.  I feel embarrassment that so many of the poorest countries around the world are hosting so many refugees and we can not manage just a few.  I feel shame that we do not consider the fate of so many vulnerable people.  I am enraged that it has become a political football.  I am seething that the politicians think only of electoral advantage that they cannot think of efficient and humane solutions.  AGGGGHH!!!!!  I could scream.

If you have read this far, I thank you for your tolerance to my rave.