Could Australia become another island in the Indonesian archipelago?

26 June 2006

Australia is in danger of becoming one of the many thousands of islands in the Indonesian archipelago. I'm not talking about some kind of a reverse continental drift or a conspiracy theory out of the One Nation policy handbook. It's all about the federal government's attitude to asylum seekers. Prime Minister John Howard has flagged additions to his Pacific Solution policy, which now are likely to go to parliament in August after the winter recess. The policy change was triggered by the diplomatic implosion over the immigration department's decision to grant temporary protection to 42 West Papuan asylum seekers who arrived by boat earlier this year. Indonesia withdrew its ambassador over the decision and many political figures, from the president down, expressed outrage and made threats. It was claimed the decision to grant a handful of visas was because of the Australian government's support for West Papuan independence. Mr Howard has travelled to Indonesia to mend the rift, armed with proposed legislation to ensure that any asylum seekers arriving by boat on the Australian mainland will be processed offshore and, if found to have a legitimate claim, given protection preferably in a third country. The prime minister has argued the policy, which extends the already controversial Pacific Solution well beyond its original form, is in Australia's national interest and is all about protecting our borders, as well as stopping refugee queue-jumping. But Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone gave the game away when she said in an interview it would be folly to ignore our relations with Indonesia in making such a decision. While Mr Howard has now agreed to a raft of amendments to the laws, after a backbench revolt, the central thrust of the legislation remains in place. The diplomatic intention behind the laws - appeasing our northern neighbour - also remains. Australia played a key role in securing the freedom and independence of East Timor after years of repression and bloodshed under Indonesian rule - a role that is continuing in the wake of fresh, internal political tensions. Support for East Timor's independence has not gone down well in some Indonesian political circles, but few in the Australian and global communities would argue that the move was anything other than morally right (even if sloppily executed). Now, just the suggestion that the government could support West Papuan independence has the government kowtowing to Indonesia. Mr Howard and Senator Vanstone

AUSTRALIA

Could Australia become another island in the Indonesian archipelago?

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