Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Hello Again Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
bendigo 18:50 UTC 23 Nov 2007 | With a resounding change of Government in Australia today, we look forward to a constructive engagement with our brothers and sisters in the Pacific. I hope this is the end of the "Pacific Solution", and that we can learn to appreciate the differences, the possibilities and responsibilities that Oz has as an Asian / Pacific Nation with a Eurpoean heritage. When the sun rise tomorrow, it will be a little brighter. Rob |
islandboi321 00:52 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | I think Australians are waking up to fact that it is quite obvious that the "parliamentary" form of democracy works best... He's gone. Unlike the "republican" form of democracy, where electoral colleges keep the idiot in power even though a majority of voters wanted him gone. Dubbya's circle of friends is shrinking... | 1
mandja 03:44 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | On the other hand the the spectre of the Australian Senate being controlled by the Greens does not augur well for Australia. It may however be good for the Pacific in terms of climate change and Aid. | 2
Laszlo 03:47 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | Well, one policy change that I recall has been requested in the past was extending the "working holiday" kind of thing to Pacific islanders. Not that many of them would be "holidaying" in AU, but they would surely need the money from temporary work more than all those European and North American backpackers currently entitled to it. Trouble could be that many may never leave AU. However considering all the Chinese and Indians that have been allowed to settle there, I can't see this a major issue either... Isn't "The Pacific Solution" now largely over? I thought only a few inmates were left in Nauru. And Nauru needed the money it received for taking them! ;-) | 3
mandja 05:36 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | Theoretically the "pacific solution" is over.The latest lot of boat refugees were taken to Chrismas Is (near Java). The new PM has already comitted his Govt to continue being tough on illegals so dont hope for much change there. The Chinese and Indians have brought with them either narrowly defined needed skills (eg IT expertise) or large $ - neither of which are abundant in the Pacific nations. Given the Green influence to increase Aid (as well as the new PMs supposed comittment to it), there may be scope to INCREASE the "Pacific solution" | 4
Laszlo 05:42 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | <blockquote>Quote <hr> The new PM has already comitted his Govt to continue being tough on illegals so dont hope for much change there.<hr></blockquote>Why would you HOPE for change there??? | 5
mandja 06:26 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | No, I dont , but many others on the Australian branch do. | 6
bendigo 07:06 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | Most of the "illegals" have turned out to be genuine refugees, who have eventually been allowed to stay in Oz, but only (often with their kids) after years of being locked in barbed-wire enclosed detention centres in the outback or on Nauru and Manus Island. There is still a small group of Burmese on Nauru who have established their refugee status, but Oz is trying to get a third country to take them in, as "we" don't want them. | 7
Laszlo 07:54 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | Here you are: <blockquote>Quote <hr>Rudd ... also pledged unity at home, vowing to shut down controversial offshore detention of illegal immigrants<hr></blockquote>Not that I think this is hugely relevant to the Pacific islands in general. Oh well, maybe this is why Nauru has suddenly decided it wants tourists after all! ;-) | 8
ozziegiraffe 15:09 UTC 24 Nov 2007 | <blockquote>Quote <hr>There is still a small group of Burmese on Nauru who have established their refugee status, but Oz is trying to get a third country to take them in, as "we" don't want them. <hr></blockquote> Funny, I thought I heard Alexander Downer say he was reducing the number of African refugees so he could concentrate on Asia and the Pacific and specifically Burmese refugees. Hope the new government can sort the whole thing out, and particularly allow Pacific Islands temporary work visas. | 9
bendigo 22:38 UTC 26 Nov 2007 | There is often a gap between what people say and what they do! Rob | 10
crossie 11:53 UTC 28 Nov 2007 | Yeah well Aus has been in a right of centre hiatus for way too long and NZ has been in a left of centre dream way too long so who is one step ahead of who? "Hey Mister Tamborine Man play that song for me, I aint sleepy and there is no place I'm going to." | 11