History of Refugees in Australia
Discuss about the Evaluating Impact of Immigration Policies.
The history of refugee’s resettlement can be traced back 170 years ago. In 1839, the Lutherans were the first group that settled in the south of Australia to escape the persecutions and denial of worship in Prussia. Australian continued to receive refugees from other countries, but the government did not offer any support to the refugees. The unassisted migrants were accepted in the country if only they met the set restrictions posed by the migration restriction Act 1901 which is the foundation of the White Australian Policy. In 1933 to 1939 more groups from Germany settled in Australia and the number of refugees rapidly increased until the break out of World War II (Luke 2018).
After the war, Australia launched an immigration program which led to a more significant number of immigrants. The program was initiated to meet the labor shortages which increased with the rapidly growing economy. In 1947, Australia agreed with International Refugee Organization to settle more people in camps from Europe. Australia went ahead of receiving refugees with many programs formed and reformed as well as signing treaties with international organizations concerning human rights and refugees.
Recently in 1980 and 1990s changes concerning the refugees were established and implemented. The delivery of settlement services shifted from the migrant’s hostels to the modern On Arrival Accommodation. In 1997, Humanitarian Settlement Strategy replaced Community Resettlement Settlement Scheme. These and the current changes in the delivery of settlements vices can be traced in detail in the current Refugee and Humanitarian Program for the 2008-2009. In the year between 2009 and 2010, Australia has passed a 75,000 mark of the refugee intake since its attainment of independence (Joly 2016).
Refugees had tragic and traumatic moments in the year 2015 in Australia and globally at large. These people were displaced because of violence, persecution and human rights violations. During this year, there was the change in policy which affected a large number of 30,000 people in the communities in Australia. These changes affected the group adversely for the system was aimed at removal of government funding assistance, determination of the refugee’s status and an introduction of temporary protection visas to the refugees (Clark, Gilbert, Rao and Kerr 2014).
The significant challenges of international displacement are signified by incredible images of Syrian children wash lifeless bodies in the Sea and the Germans giving food to the refugees hanging on the fence at the border. Refugees were detained at Nauru as a result of the implementation of the Australian asylum policy which affected 30,000 people in Australian’s communities. The changed system was on temporary protection visas, denial of government-funded assistance and the identification of the refugee’s position (Woodland, Burgner, Paxton and Zwi 2010).
Changes in Settlement Services and Policies
Various issues emerged affecting the refugees. These issues were a delay of citizenship and denial to those in school for further studies due to the temporary protection visas. Hope to these people vanished and the idea of uniting with their loved ones, access to stable employment and education was shuttered. Proper housing and access to enough food were no longer practical (Reiger 2010).
There has been an opponent of the acts of turning back boats and deportation in Australia to the refugees. This policy was to stop more refugees from getting into the country. The already refugees were in fear of deportation to their countries with violence. This policy was referred as punitive and inhumane. There was a report that the refugees were suddenly detained based on their behaviors and characters which increased the number of people suffering from mental health (Koleth 2010). The introduction of refugee identification a process known as fast-tracking and the removal of government funding affected the refugees adversely. Refugee could no longer seek legal advice or assistance. There was also delay in the documentation, interviews, communication as well as information (Weine 2011).
The size of the population of the refugees has dramatically grown. For Nauru, the numbers of people have sustained high levels. Manus Island, the number of Asylum seekers, has rapidly increased and is almost four times than the first phase which has sustained many detainees. The composition of the asylum seekers has also changed. The manus island composition is of males only based on the harsh conditions that could only be handled by adult men. Women and children are not available on the island for they are regarded as the vulnerable group (Crock and Berg 2011).
The help coming from Australia towards the Pacific solution in Pacific countries has made the PICs to push the conversion of pressure from their primary donor since the needs of developing countries are proliferating. The needs correspond to those of Nauru whose riches has turned to rugs. President Nixon responded to the pressure arguing that the main reasons why the Americans were offering aid is for their good and not entirely to help other countries since the pressure was too much. The pressure had become a threat to the Pacific countries (Connell 2013).
The damage of the asylum seekers both mentally and physical damage due to detention in offshore facilities has been well certified. Tensions have emerged among the foreigners, and the local communities on whether the asylum seekers should wait for their determination or they should be viewed as refugees and resettled in the community (Legomsky 2012). The local communities view that these foreigners are as a result of animosity of Australia who mistreated the transferees. There have been various reports of violence and killings of the asylum seekers living in Nauru based on the cultural differences between them. The mistreatment of the youth and discrimination in getting employment as well as the threats of being killed if they will not shift from the island has led to the refugees to be taken back to detention for their safety. Tension has also been evident between the locals and the government due to the presence of asylum to the island. The locals were angered by the fact that the government did not consult them on reopening of the detention (Wright 2014).
Challenges Faced by Refugees
There was a recognition of the persecution of female which is different to those of males. Former review tribunal issued gender guidelines since the female asylum seekers were particular vulnerabilities. The transfer of the group to the processing centers to Nauru exposed the vulnerable group of women and children to harm of damage that might resemble those they experienced in their country of origin. There have been reports on the physical and sexual assaults on women in Nauru. Women are exposed to the risks of being harassed, by men who are detainees, police, and local male guards inside and outside Nauru. There was a report that the refugees were suddenly detained based on their behaviors and characters which increased the number of people suffering from mental health. The introduction of refugee identification a process known as fast-tracking and the removal of government funding affected the refugees adversely especially women and children. Refugee could no longer seek legal advice or assistance. There was also delay in the documentation, interviews, communication as well as information (Martinez et al. 2015).
- The permanent end of the offshore processing.
- Fair and humane procedures for claiming asylum.
- A reformation of the immigration detention of the refugee’s system.
A more significant and more sensitive refugee and humanitarian movements.
- Improvement of engagement between Australia and Asia.
The regimes costly, damaging to the lives of the asylum people as well as it is illegal. The regime has cost the Australian government over 5 billion on measures of the policy which have continued to harm those seeking the protection of a state. This policy has led to deaths of many and assaults to both children and women. In this case, a strategy should be initiated to stop the regime (Sandvik 2010).
A proposed solution for the policy is to end the offshore processing. Instead, the government should process people onshore. Australia should also end the turning boats but instead come up with ways to the rescue of the people. The Australian government in collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations should come up with initiatives for refugee’s protection during the period of their settlement in the country (Koleth 2010). These initiatives are a warm welcoming of the genuine refugees. To avoid those fake refugees, the government ought to come up with methods of registering actual immigrants. The idea of turning back those people who need help is not human. Rather than putting restrictions on the borders, security should be enhanced but allow refugees in the country (McDonald 2011). Ways on curbing illegal business on the open borders should be focused on other than total restrictions of the immigrants. Australian government ought to enact policies of registering the refugees and their identification to distinguish the genuine refugees from other people with ill intentions (Carney and Boucher 2010)
Social Pressure in Small Island Societies
A proposed solution is aiming at people seeking asylum should be treated more humanely and have the protection they lack from their home countries. The fast-tracking system should be replaced by a single statutory refugee’s status determination procedure. The process should have access to individual review by the administrative Appeals Tribunals. A process of appointing and reappointing of members should be provided which should be independent and merit-based for a minimum of five years to avoid political interference and influence. The government should restore the funding for competent legal assistance and legal advice to the people seeking the asylum. Efforts on child care during the early development stage is essential to avoid trauma and stress and enhance flexibility in adjusting and also adapting to the new environment (Fozdar and Hartley 2013)
The proposed solution in the process is for the people seeking asylum in Australia should be treated fairly and more humanely with their rights respected and upheld. The mandatory immigration detention should end. People seeking protection and security should be let free to live in Australia communities with their needs and claims to be considered (Jensen and Sonnemann 2014)
The immigration detention legislation of the state should be reformed in the following ways; Repealing of the mandatory detention in the migration act. The law should be codified in the prohibition of children detention. There should be a regulation on immigrating detention. There should be some limitations put in place concerning the extent of detention. The state should also ensure that all people have access to judicial review of negative security performance.
The Australian refugee and humanitarian program should increase in size to have the ability to give long-lasting solutions to the challenges facing Australia concerning the refugees. The increased program should offer protection fo the unsettled people. In the migration program, the inclusion of humanitarian family reunion to enable the refugees to reunite with their families. To curb the problem of terrorists attacking hospitals, the government should come up with programs of building underground hospitals out of reach of the terrorists (Gushulak, Pottie, Roberts, Torres and DesMeules 2011).
The government should come up with strategies on how to help the victims of war and other natural calamities from trauma. Nearly all the survivors are wounded emotionally, and the results can be depression or mental related problem. Yoga classes need to be implemented in the camps. Yoga classes are meant to help that individual in trauma to accept the situation and calculate ideas of bettering their conditions. Those refugees who succumbed permanent damage such as disabilities should get counselors who will help them acquire the value of acceptance that will boost their self-esteem (Paxton et al. 2012).
Impact on Vulnerable Groups
To help those women with a heavy burden of the family responsibility, the government ought to implement policies that will help refugee women to become entrepreneurs. The initiative implemented should focus on developing personal and community advocacy skills, employability skills, business skills, conflict management skills. These skills will enable women in becoming well positioned in accessing economic resources and services independently, and with this, child support in basic needs and education will be served right (Neumann and Tavan 2013)
In the case of discrimination, the entire public ought to respect the human rights being in their home origin or not. Awareness needs to be initiated especially to those people who find it challenging to appreciate people from other cultures. Laws on the rights of the refugees should be enforced, and those who are assaulted or discriminated should seek justice. Those who violate the rights of others should face the arms law of the government (Wille 2011). By enforcing rules and regulations by the government, discrimination against color, race, dressing code and culture will reduce. A framework of culture should be developed by the anti-discrimination law and validated to guide the implementation and development of settlement aspects (Mutch et al. 2011).
The Australian government should implement a cross-portfolio approach to enhance security and protection of the refugees. Initiatives of making peace and reconciliation processes in countries of origin of the refugees are needed. The government should also work with the regional administrations and other states to initiate a regional strategy for enhancing resettlement and coming with other long-lasting solution.
Australia should finally acknowledge that the wellbeing and the interests of people and the states in the Asia Pacific regions are well achieved if the nation collaborates with others in finding possible and long-lasting solutions to the challenges facing them. Answers should be found on the displaced people due to violence and persecution from their countries using diplomacy (Robinson 2013). The Australian government should focus on the promotion of ways to stop detention for the refugees and using diplomacy activities resettle the people. There should be an identification of the causes of displacement in Asia. There should be an engagement, with the civil society in communities, influencing the state to collaborate with NGOs, working with the refugee’s community’s networks, partnering with local leaders and business leaders all to get solutions of the refugees, host nations as well as the returnees. Continuing engagement with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable groups of women and children who have minimal options for long-lasting solutions (Jones and Cherian 2014).
Proposed Solution
The Australian government should drop the idea of temporary protection as well as converting all temporary visas into permanent visa. In case the temporary visas are retained then there should be clear information given to those applying for the permit (Correa-Velez, Gifford and Barnett 2010).
- There should be enough funding and support to the refugees and ways to stabilize their lives should be the principal objective.
- To curb the problem of terrorists attacking hospitals, the government should come up with programs of building underground hospitals out of reach of the terrorists.
- The public should come up with strategies on how to help the victims of war and other natural calamities from trauma (Bellamy 2010).
- For the refugees with disabilities, the government should ensure the information given to the agencies is correct concerning the limitations and health issues of the refugees.
- The government should improve on citizenship delays and also give reasons behind the delay. Citizenship application should be handled as a matter of urgency.
- The Australian government in collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations should come up with initiatives for refugee’s protection during the period of their settlement in the country.
- To help those women with a heavy burden of the family responsibility, the government ought to implement policies that will help refugee women to become entrepreneurs.
- A framework of culture should be developed by the anti-discrimination law and validated to guide the implementation and development of settlement aspects.
Conclusion
Refugees had tragic and traumatic moments in the year 2015 in Australia and globally at large. These people were displaced because of violence, persecution and human rights violations. During this year, there was the change in policy which affected a large number of 30,000 people in the communities in Australia. These changes affected the group adversely for the system was aimed at removal of government funding assistance, determination of the refugee’s status and an introduction of temporary protection visas to the refugees. Impacts of this policy are, the size of the population of the refugees has dramatically grown. For Nauru, the numbers of people have sustained high levels, Pressure on Pacific states and persecution of female which is different to those of males (Neumann, Gifford, Lems and Scherr 2014). This policy by the Australian government needed reforms like the permanent end of the offshore processing; fair and humane procedures for claiming asylum, a reformation on the immigration detention of the refugee’s system, a more significant and more sensitive refugee and humanitarian movements and improvement of engagement between Australia and Asia. The reforms are aimed to achieve various visions like, people seeking asylum should be treated more humanely and have the protection they lack from their home countries. The fast-tracking system should be replaced by a single statutory refugee’s status determination procedure. The process should have access to individual review by the administrative Appeals Tribunals. Instead of turning back boats and processing of people offshore, the government should process people onshore. Australia should also end the turning boats but instead come up with ways to the rescue of the people. Australia should finally acknowledge that the wellbeing and the interests of people and the states in the Asia Pacific regions are well achieved if the nation collaborates with others in finding possible and long-lasting solutions to the challenges facing them. Answers should be found on the displaced people due to violence and persecution from their countries using diplomacy. The Australian government should focus on the promotion of ways to stop detention for the refugees and using diplomacy activities resettle the people (Koser 2010).
References
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