Tess 14/07/10 11:15 PM Report Abuse

What about the internet filter? yes or no???

Al 18/07/10 01:06 AM Report Abuse

There is nothing new with etnical groups sponsoring migrants and refugees. However look what the excesive number of Indians brought into the country as "Students" are actually economic migrants that buy a place in university depriving Australians to study a career.
I'm a migrant, engineer, I had to validate qualifications, present certificates of competence and experience and wait for more than a year to come here.
I could have done much faster by putting a few thousand dollars and come straight away!
Immigration has to be selected, wise and carefully blend different cultures in order to avoid cultural clashes.

Groups sponsoring refugees: looks like another way to avoid a fear and logical process of selection.

Grayham 18/07/10 01:22 PM Report Abuse

Mr. Morrison...... why do we need a refugee programme at all? 15000 refugees over 3 years?? Those 15000, through your planned ethnic sponsor groups will bring in a further ethnic population (family members) that will increase our refugee intake fourfold.
Britain spurned Enoch Powell in the late 50's and introduced their "refugee programme" and look where it is today.
Surely you see that Australians are comfortable with a multicultural society? Don't give us a Multiracial one..... there is a huge difference.
America deports all illegal Hispanics they catch. South Africa returns all Zimbabweans they catch, and I'm sure (if the truth be known) most countries do the same with their illegals. Why does the Government of the day in Australia persist in spending our taxes on illegals...... just send them back.
Australia only needs people who can contribute to the wealth and growth of this great country.
Firm up your policy if you want my vote.

Grayham 18/07/10 01:34 PM Report Abuse

"The Coalition will consult on the development of the pilot programme, which would be based on the Canadian model."

Mr Morrison, that's a great throw-away line if I ever heard one. Who's to say that it works in Canada?
Not everything that comes out of America/Canada is good, nor does it always work.

Australia needs to wake up to the fact that we are slowly being overrun by a non english-speaking, non christian and uneducated society from all corners of the globe.

Arthur Applecart 18/07/10 08:41 PM Report Abuse

How does this differ from the queue-jumping you keep banging on about ad nauseam? You keep saying it's unfair that those with money are able to jump the queue, but now you propose to enable those who have friends with money to jump the queue. Hypocrite.

Nick Smart 19/07/10 06:54 PM Report Abuse

Ideas like this are wise to apease simplistic minded lefties without running our country into the ground

Concerned 20/07/10 12:24 PM Report Abuse

A silly idea
A person pays someone in Australia to sponsor them - a people smuggler in another guise?
Once here the sponsor has nothing to do with the person sponsored - how do you compel the sponsor to provide housing/employment?
The person sponsored cannot be returned - the definition of a refugee
Does the government stand back and let the newly arrived family become homeless and destitute and deny them medical care?
If you want 'genuine' refugees then why allow those who can pay to be fast tracked?

Beat Labor 20/07/10 03:49 PM Report Abuse

Can I just make a comment re: ALP-Greens deal? Has anyone focused on the Greens immigration refugee policy? ie All asylum applicants would be processed onshore, there would be no detention and they would have access to the full benefits of the nation including income support, education, healthcare and the legal system....
That ought to cause concern (and should be brough to light)!

jaxxen 21/07/10 05:25 AM Report Abuse

"Over and above our current intake"??? You have got to be joking! We have enough third world immigrants now! Stop all third world immigration.

brien 22/07/10 10:42 PM Report Abuse

Ai and jaxxen u guys r racists.

Jack 23/07/10 12:18 PM Report Abuse

A sponsorship program is the worst possible idea. If you want more boats per week coming to Australia - yeah, then it's a super idea. Those coming here are not refugees. They are victims of people smugglers. They have no right to enter this country the way they do. Your border protection policy is even worse than Labor's if you introduce that program. If you guys, who are voted into office democratically, can't do the right thing, it's should be up the defence force to take the first necessary steps to defend this nation by force when they spot the invaders.

Yuyutsu 25/07/10 10:20 PM Report Abuse

Nice, but why limit this only to refugees?

The whole migration program should be on a user-pays basis.
The government should step out and probably not invite anyone, but individuals and groups should be allowed sponsor anyone they wish - be they refugees, or family-members, or friends, or skilled-workers, subject only to character/health screening and proper assurances that the coming person(s) will not become a financial burden on Australia.

Federalist 26/07/10 09:59 AM Report Abuse

This is an inspired idea. Top marks. Will give refugee advocate groups an opportunity to act directly according to their beliefs. They will be able to raise funds (tax deductible I presume) for doing direct good rather than for advertising and lobbying.

Bev 26/07/10 01:24 PM Report Abuse

Have I missed something here? At the top of the page readers can click to vote "Yes" or to vote "Support". Do you only want to hear from the people who support you? Are the people who oppose this proposal to have no voice?

No, I do not agree with this policy. It is fairy story, touchy-feely stuff designed only to appeal to people who think it really is a perfect world. We already have family reunion migration and business migration. Are you suggesting that groups, perhaps Lions, perhaps the local Anglican church, perhaps the Boy Scouts, should put their hands up and say, "Hey, here's a zillion dollars. We will sponsor three Nigerian males between the age of 18 and 25, and two Ethipians in the 40-50 age group".

Anyway, it seems that if these refugees really want to get into Australia in a timely manner, all they need to do is perfect their skills in some sport and before you know it they will be up there playing in the Davis Cup, or in the World Cup, or representing Australia at the Olympic Games. Shame we can't get some Swiss or Swedish illegals - we'd then have a chance at more gold at the Winter Olympics.

Koze 26/07/10 05:41 PM Report Abuse

This is a step in the right direction. If refugees have $10000 to pay people smugglers to get here, then why not pick them up ourselves and use that money as a bond or to accommodate them until their refugee status is checked? Then people smugglers will get nothing.

Mark. 26/07/10 10:35 PM Report Abuse

Do you Really want to be "Fair Dinkum" about it? Go back to the days when the borders were closed completely! The days of ZERO Refugees. That is the ONLY 'Honest Way' of controlling the situation. Sure, the world will call us a racist nation, but they do that now. China Did this successfully some years ago. Now look at them! If I had just 1 Dollar for every time I have heard someone say, "Let the Navy have some Gunnery Practice"(on the Pirate boats), I would be very rich by now! ... I go one step further. I say to Sink the boats & have a shark breeding programme (for endangered species) just off our Northern Coast. That would clean up the mess. .. Yes, It IS a Barbaric solution, but it is only in keeping with the way the rest of the world has become! In short, ... Show the world that Australia is no longer a 'soft touch'. I reckon they'd get the message after sinking just 2 or 3 boats & NOT picking up survivors!

Mimi Vincent 27/07/10 11:20 AM Report Abuse

I want to comment on Scott he is not afraid to speak out we need more pollies like this would like to see him also speak on other issues. You go Scott!!!! I can see a leader of the Opp. here or future PM. Good on you for standing up to the bullying press etc.

Better selection 01/08/10 02:12 PM Report Abuse

Silly idea! Sponsor once candidates have been through scrutiny and logical selection for best candidates perhaps. But not as additional migration. Once accepted, then a great idea to offer sponsorship.

Andy 02/08/10 10:50 PM Report Abuse

What about the open borders we have with New Zealand, but we have no control over their economy. We can't tax it for the costs.

ellie 26/02/11 12:20 PM Report Abuse

to be completely honoust, i would much rather this than pay taxes for people who are not even in our country.

Alembe Asukulu 10/07/11 01:50 AM Report Abuse

Dear Sir/Madam,
I have the great honor to came before your authority submit my application
for sponsorship from your office.

As to me,I am from the Democratic Republic of Congo,living in Kenya.
I am married to Monique Martha Safi and we have four children.I wish to
request your office to grant me opportunity to get a resettlement,due to the
following reasons;
-In 2004 a conflict opposing two ethnics groups exploded in my
village!Several members of my family including my mother were killed!The
authors of the genocide were neighbors with whom we lived in very good
relations.We loved one another and We shared everything.Our houses were
destroyed.Suffering henceforth become party of my life!
-I was persecuted by the rebellions called Mai-Mai and this made it
impossible to continue enjoying my nationality a Congolese!
-My sister was violated by the Mai-Mai in my presence!
-Due the persecution I suffered in Congo,it is impossible for me to return
home,it is endangering my life!

It is on this basis that I request your office to consider my case and grant
me resettlement in your country where my life will be stable.I am willing to
avail myself for any further information you may need from me.
Thank you,
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Alembe Asukulu

Aspen 18/07/11 11:44 AM Report Abuse

Aritecls like these put the consumer in the driver seat—very important.

anas abdi abdisalam 29/07/11 05:52 AM Report Abuse

sir or/madam
I’m ANAS ABDI ABDISALAM
I take the opportunity to humbly submit this letter in regard of the
above subject aim a Somali boy who fled from his country of origin
especially Mogadishu town I am currently living Nairobi Kenya
I have a kind request to the to acknowledge the problems I am facing right now, I come from
Somalia and
as the whole nation well know that what is happening currently in
Somalia, I was about to be killed by the well known group AL.SHABAAB,
for the sake of my dear life I had to run away and camp at Nairobi as a
refugee. In Nairobi I have no relative and I can’t walk freely in the
town due to the fair because I am not a Kenyan citizen, I can’t go
back
to Somalia because of the recent problems; killing me being among
them.
In 12/dec/ 2007 I was forced to drop out from school and join this
group,
whoever refused was assured to be killed, since I didn’t want to join
them I had run away. Since Somalia there’s no a central governmental and is not
stable, I kindly request to be helped in any way possible
in Nairobi Kenya facing a difficult circumstance and a hard life
because I don’t get any support from anyone or organization to
sustain
my daily bread I have no relatives at all in Kenya to built or
think of my development I am a person who is featuring a good future
in all in walk of life including education and technical learning
Above
all I cannot return back to my home country because I fear
persecution as there is no central government in place that protect
civil rights and also the whole country is controlled by radical
armed groups who are purporting to enforce Islamic law the rights
of youth are not protected and they are always subjected to
persecution and killing on the pretext of violating Islamic sharia
law
I wish that Sanctuary Australia Foundation will accept my humanitarian application
I want to live peaceful place with hospitable people who respects right
of youth aim I am vulnerable person in my society and I always
susceptible to any persecution at any time that why this wrote this
letter so that I get protection in your country living in Kenya
bears its own danger too because of its proximity to the lawless
Somalia where I fear returning to the people who persecuted in
Somalia have vowed to extend their attack byond

acolledge 05/08/11 09:11 AM Report Abuse

As a Canadian proudly living in Australia (and loving my adopted home country immensely), and someone who worked at Canada's Immigration and Refugee department, I was privy to the files of the individuals claiming refugee status back home. It was heartbreaking.

These people are not "statistics", nor are they a "problem". They are actual human beings that have suffered incredibly. Each one has a tale of torture, violation, fear and persecution. I witnessed members of the Immigration and Refugee Committees leaving hearings in tears after listening to the testimonies of the people seeking asylum.

Further, immigrants of ALL stripes enrich our nation, taking on low-paying jobs that more affluent individuals won't, adding to the richness and diversity of our culture and ushering us more deeply into our global community.

If we can find a way to manage the ingress, and make it safer for people that have already suffered enough we should do so, as Australians are a compassionate people who make "mates" very easily.

I think the Liberals are on the right track to figuring out how to do this.

Name PRINCE SANNOH 29/10/11 07:31 AM Report Abuse

AS I SIAD YOU BEFORE I AM A SIERRA LEONEAN REFUGEE LIVING IN GUINEA I NEED A HELP FROM YOU ALL WHAT CAN I DO AS A REFUGEE NO PLACE TO GO AND NO HOMETO GO FOR NOW. I AM HERE HEAIRING FROM YOU.
THANKS MUCH.
PRINCE SANNOH

victoria 21/01/12 07:04 PM Report Abuse

Peace be unto you in the mighty name of Our heavenly Father. how are
you doing today? You cant imagine how amazed i am to find a group of people
that are bent on helping better the lives of the less privileged. My name is
Victoria David, a refugee that stays on the Buduburam Refugee camp in Ghana
.I am originally from Liberia but when the pressure of the civil war started
in my country and reached where my family and i were staying . My family
were killed in the war so i came here with my husband and my daughter. when
the war had ceased a bit he went back to see if he would be lucky to find
any of his family.leaving me pregnant with my son. it\'s being 21 years
since i came here.that time I managed to find a way to reach them as i am
now in the same refugee camp.My kids Had to abandon school because i cannot
afford it. Life has not being in the best of shape.I Have tried finding work
but no one seems to want to employ a refugee who also is a partial
illiterate.I was not fortunate to study as during my youth days ,my parent
never believed in girl child education. I got work from this cyber cafe as a
janitor. I have asked for food in return to help feed my kids but the
manager said he is not making profits yet so all he can do now is give me
internet access as he knows i cant access the web due to my inability to
read well.I have said this word out for someone to type for me and look on
google to find organizations that can help me and my children in this camp.
I am using this Internet to find some help with school, food and somewhere
to stay for my family and i or even resettlement to better the lives of my
family.Life here is a living hell. I came across your website and wanted to
ask for your assistance and support. what can i do to get you aid? Hope to hear from you soon

Victoria