Cat and dogs comparison angers refugee supporters

A senior Federal Liberal MP has compared the plight of asylum seekers to that of cats and dogs entering the country. The comments have angered refugee advocates.

Trish Worth holds the federal seat of Adelaide by less than 1 per cent and at a refugee forum on Wednesday night, she made this comment: "If you bring a dog into the country, or a cat from some countries, they...look can you just hear me out please, can you just hear me out, there are certain tests to be carried out."

Don McMaster from Justice for Refugees was chairing the forum and says the comments are disappointing.

"Immediately the audience thought you know she's equating asylum seekers to animals, or animals in quarantine. It disappoints me because I think it actually perpetuates that whole demonisation of asylum seekers and I think that's one of the really worrying aspects of the Coalition Government over the past three years or even longer."

The Labor candidate for Adelaide, Kate Ellis, says she is shocked.

"At best a very poor choice of words I think," she said.

But Ms Worth says she was not comparing refugees to cats and dogs.

"It would not enter my head to be referring to refugees or asylum seekers in that way.

By Crocodile Rock 31 August 04

Related:

Gillard stirs Liberal leadership pot
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Public wants accountability: Latham
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Don't rock the Boat Howard!
PRIME Minister John Howard today denied the children overboard affair had swayed the 2001 election? Mr Howard has spent the week defending himself against claims he had been informed that nobody in Defence believed children had been thrown overboard by asylum seekers.

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Not happy, John
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HOWARD'S LIE DETECTOR TEST: CHILDREN OVERBOARD AFFAIR
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Children Overboard Affair: Howard 'unfit to lead'
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'Refugees and Indigenous People in John Howard's Australia' Politician - Senator Aden Ridgeway, the only Indigenous Federal parliamentarian, visits Villawood immigration detention centre and is a vocal critic of current refugee and Indigenous policy. Senator Ridgeway will discuss the proposed abolition of ATSIC as well as current refugee and Indigenous policy changes being fought for by the Australian Democrats. Advocate.

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Baxter detainee continues hunger strike
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Senior cleric damns Baxter as 'disgraceful'
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Australia's "GITMO" System
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No more children for Baxter, pleads SA
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Nauru staff 'fear children are next'
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Australian Govt human rights record 'worsening'
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Here is a new project
1. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent children?
2. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent women?
3. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent people?

Apologise to children abused in care: report

A Senate report on children placed in institutional care has called for the Federal Government to apologise to those who were harmed by their experience.

The report has also recommended a fund be set up, with contributions from the states and the churches, so children who suffered abuse can claim compensation outside the court system.

Committee chair, Labor's Jan McLucas, says the report calls for an independent review body to investigate complaints.

She has told the Senate that in the meantime groups involved in providing institutional care should be more transparent.

"We have called on the churches and other care providing organisations to open their books and to allow care leavers all the information which has been collected about them," she said.

"We have said if this does not occur then the only course of action is for the Federal Government to implement a royal commission."

By Just Us 30 August 04

Related:

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Qld puts forward national child abuse strategy
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International No-Smacking Day April 30 2004
A Cure For Violence and Domestic Violence simple as ABC.

Three slaps? Three bad lessons!
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Valuing children now!
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ATSIC call to smack kids?
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No-Smacking Day for Children in NSW
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WA police ministers quick fix on domestic violence
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Development problems hit 1 in 4 kids: study
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Spanking-ban critics offer compromise?
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Children in refugee detention links:

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Mr Costello yesterday said that the Federal Government should aim to get all children out of immigration detention and he suggested there should be an increase in immigration levels.

Compo claims could follow child detention, group warns
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No more children for Baxter, pleads SA
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Nauru staff 'fear children are next'
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says women and children are sitting in on a hunger strike at the Nauru detention centre, but are not participating.

Australian Govt human rights record 'worsening'
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Here is a new project
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2. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent women?
3. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent people?

Australia an unfair nation, say young and all!

Young people and older people think Australia is undemocratic and unfair. Young people cite their teachers as having the greatest influence on their political thinking, according to a provocative new national survey funded by the Government. 

Older people cite "injustice" amongst other things as a "bent legal system" favouring hi profiled superstars, corporations and politicians.

Some examples:

- Bulldogs alleged rapists not named?

- Football player bashed police in Maroubra and walks from the local court?

- TJ followed but not pursued to his death?

- Woman let off after running someone down in her car while using a mobile phone on the north shore but man living in the western suburbs sent to jail for two years for running into woman on a push bike?

- Bob Carr: At risk children left behind in NSW?

- Bob Carr in contempt of the ICAC?

- NSW prison visitors banned from using the toilet unless they terminate their visit?

- The Terrorist Act locking up innocent people?

- Prisoner's right to vote attacked again?

- Howard's 120 Million election advertising blitz? And many more.....

Fewer than 55 per cent of young people surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that "Australia is a democratic country".

And only 52 per cent said they had been taught about citizenship at school.

At one Sydney school, Year 10 students did not know what democracy meant and some students said that Australia was not a republic so it could not be a democracy.

And many participants in focus groups said they had gained their understanding of the rights of citizenship from American television.

The National Youth Affairs Research Scheme report was carried out by a private consulting firm for the Government between 2002 and December of 2003 to record the perceptions of about 800 youths aged 12 to 15 of citizenship and democracy.

Teachers were rated the most trustworthy source of political information, with 75 per cent, followed by family at 73 per cent.

The media was trusted by 36 per cent and politicians were the least trustworthy sources of political information at 34 per cent.

Patricia Karvelas: "A spokesman for conservative think-tank the Institute of Public Affairs, Alan Moran, said the survey results were alarming.

"It probably reflects more adversely on Australia's education system than on the reality of the Australian political system," he said.

He said it could be because teachers had the most influence on young people's political opinions that so many young people thought Australia undemocratic.

Just Us: But what a lot of rubbish how many brain cells has this conservative think-tank got? "Alarming" yes but not for the reasons stated by the "conservative think-tank".

It probably reflects more adversely on Australia's dictator, [war criminal], John Howard because that's the reality of the 'Australian political system' at the moment.

Australian Education Union president Pat Byrne said the fact that so many young people thought Australia undemocratic was probably because they had experienced instances of injustice.

"it could be that students' experiences within their own lives is teaching show them that democratic processes are not always used," she said.

Ms Byrne said teachers did not teach that Australia was an undemocratic country.

By Patricia Karvelas and Just Us 20 August 04

SKIPPY: It could be the lies that the Howard government has managed to introduce to the Australian fabric like it's normal. How do you trust someone who lies to you?

SO PUT YOUR LEFT FOOT FORWARD THIS FEDERAL ELECTION "WITHOUT FEAR" AND VOTE 1 THE GREENS AND 2 THE DEMOCRATS "THE LIE DETECTORS".

TO LIVE WITHOUT DEMOCRACY AND IN FEAR IS A LIFE THAT'S NOT "FAIR DINKUM" MATE! AND ONLY HALF LIVED.

Written and authorised by the community.

Related:

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Prisoner's right to vote attacked again!
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PM Howard Morally Bankrupt
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Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel?
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PM, Carr attacked as judge pulls plug
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Labor to request Senate inquiry into ATSIC's future
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Dictatorship under the Crimes Act?
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Gang-rape, police, disparity and the law..
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States to cooperate on school curriculums but social skills don't rate? What is Civics and Citizenship Education? Civics and Citizenship Education focuses on What it means to be a citizen of Australia. NOT WHAT IT MEANS TO RESPECT A CITIZEN OF AUSTRALIA. How our system of government works. HERE ARE THE RULES! How Australian democracy evolved, and How to take part in the public affairs of Australia. NOT HOW TO RELATE AND HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT. Civics and Citizenship will be the first teaching program for 2003 developed as part of The Australian's resource program for schools. The program provides teachers and students the opportunity to examine and discuss a variety of issues relating to civics and citizenship, including: