 www.araustralia.org |
Alternative Radio (Aust.) PO Box 780 Morwell Victoria 3848 Australia tel. 61-3-5134-8556 mob. 61-413-597-828 inquiries@araustralia.org |
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www.araustralia.org |
Alternative Radio (Aust.) PO Box 780 Morwell Victoria 3848 Australia tel. 61-3-5134-8556 mob. 61-413-597-828 inquiries@araustralia.org |
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In August 2001 the Tampa sailed into Australian Territorial waters and became the focal point of the Howard government's fear campaign in the lead up to the election that year. That campaign had a long pedigree and it was not the first time fear of 'foreigners' had been used to bolster flagging political ambitions. The Tampa ushered in a new spin on and old issue. It also highlighted, to those who would listen or look, the conditions under which our government, in our name, illegally imprisoned, detained and treated asylum seekers and refugees. It seems that most Australians, far from opposing the government's treatment of these people, accepted even the most outlandish statements and comments by our political leaders with scant indifferent at best or embraced them as truth at worst.
Julian Burnside, QC, became one of the leading lights in the fight to free illegally detained refugees and asylum seekers. He has acted on behalf of the OK Tedi peoples against BHP and for the Maritime Union in the 1998 Patrick's waterfront dispute. When he is not giving his time and skills for humanitarian causes, Mr. Burnside is actively involved in many community and arts groups. He has also published a successful children's novel, Matilda and the Dragon. He spoke at the second lecture organised by the Gippsland Ethnic Communities Council held in Morwell in June 2004. ** CD only |