By: Daan Spijer

Daan Spijer — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:04:50 +0000

Shirley, I can understand your frustration but cannot agree with you about the asylum seekers, for that is what most of the ‘boat people’ are.
Apart from the fact that we have a humanitarian responsibility to accept asylum seekers onto our shores (apart form our obligations under international law), experience of more than sixty years has shown that people from other countries who settle here (under whatever guise they come) make huge contributions to our society and our economy. I know that there is a perception that they take valuable resources from current citizens, but this is not supported by the facts.
As for your comments about council interference in your dealing with your land — councils need to lay down rules to ensure that one person’s use of their land does not adversely affect the wider community, but I agree that sometimes this can go too far and makes no sense.
Daan

By: Shirley Hassen

Shirley Hassen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:16:41 +0000

Hello Daan,
I have no ill feelings towards the boat people as human beings and I am to assume that most of them are good citizens in their country, but we have many, many Australians destitute, homeless, needing to rely on charity, etc. Meanwhile, the boat people come here to Australia and they receive the Royal treatment. As I stated above, I have no discrimination against the boat people but, for Heaven’s sake, let our people be given first priority in their own country!
Being a pensioner,I live it tough (and I know I am not Robinson Crusoe) and I have to pay rates, feed and clothe myself and, although the price for scripts for my medications (I am a diabetic) are helpful, I can’t always buy all of my medication.
So why can’t the boat people understand that by coming here to Australia, they are depriving Australians?
Also, why doesn’t the government have a law to stop the Council from telling us land owners what we can and what we can’t do on our own properties. For an example, I wanted to divide a small piece of my land and the council said that I would have to put in a pumping station for the sewerage. I would like to inform that the land in question has (at least for 100 years and beyond) never had sewerage connected. First there was the pan and then the septic. So you tell me why a pensioner should be footing the bill of a pumping station plus connection to her land. Connection I understand, but a pumping station (cost about $30 000+).
Shirley

Comments on: From the Kitchen #56

By: Daan Spijer

By: Shirley Hassen