Call For A Referendum.

It is disappointing that anyone who tries to express a contrary view on immigration in this country is branded a redneck or a racist and even if those views are shared by the majority of Australians it makes no difference.

The bleeding-heart brigade, the do-gooders and our moral guardians, the media, who have the last say, win every time. So much for free speech.

A lot has been said and written about refugees coming here and our politicians keep telling us the reason for the recent upsurge is the push factor. Most claim that unless they leave their homeland they face persecution or even death.

However, I believe that it is not the push factor but the pull factor that is attracting them to our shores. It's only commonsense that anyone fearing persecution or even death would seek refuge in the first available safe haven that they come to. But not most refugees. They bypass countries where they would be most welcome but because most do not have social security they head for Australia for a better lifestyle.

They know that once they get here they are set for life with generous handouts from the government that include free housing, free dental and medical plus all the perks available through charaties and various church groups. And to top it all off there is the baby bonus. And some people wonder why they make a bee-line for Australia.

Nearly all the men who arrive and settle here are all military age and while they relax at taxpayers` expense, enjoying the life of Riley, our young service personnel are certainly facing persecution and death cleaning up the mess they have left behind.

And it would be interesting to know if Australia was ever threatened with a foreign invasion would the like of Mr. John Moi of Wagga ( "Black Attack", The Daily Advertiser, January 12, 2011 ) and his fellow compatriots be prepared to bear arms against these invaders to defend their adopted country or would they hightail it out of here to another safe haven ?

If they refuse to defend their own country and desert family members and friends then it would be highly unlikely that they would risk life and limb to defend somebody else's country.

I know it makes a lot of people feel warm and fuzzy to have an open immigration policy but I believe every refugee who enters the country is a potential welfare recipient for the rest of their days.

We all know that the big end of town doesn't contribute much in the way of taxes so it's left to the low and middle income earners to foot the bill. And to top it all off, because of overcrowding on Christmas Island, some are now being housed on the mainland enjoying five-star luxury motels with room service. And some people wonder why they are busting their guts to come on leaking boats.

And to think that there are thousands of genuine Aussies, some through no fault of their own, who are really doing it tough by having to sleep in cars, doorways and under bridges yet, despite all of this, our politicians still can't seem to get their priorities right. They apparently don't believe in the adage that charity begins at home.

If we continue to tolerate weak border protection laws, weak politicians, "no questions asked" handouts from Centerlink and the two political party system nothing is ever going to change.

And you can forget about those fruitcakes The Greens as a viable alternative. Their main concerns appear to centre around same-sex marraige and sex-change operations at the taxpayer's expense.

Our politicians won't even consider having a referendum on immigration because if we change our present immigration policies it might just upset our political master-the United Nations.

Geoff Field
Gundagai
( Daily Advertiser 3.2.11 ).