Australia's Playbook Influences UK's "Stop the Boats" Policy
Sunak's Anti-Asylum Rhetoric Echoes Australia's Harsh Approach
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a new "stop the boats" policy, which has been heavily criticized by human rights groups. The policy is similar to one that has been implemented in Australia for over a decade.
Australia's policy has been widely condemned by the UN and other international organizations. It involves turning back boats carrying asylum seekers and refusing to allow them to settle in Australia. The policy has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of asylum seekers.
Two Layers to Australia's Policy
Australia's policy has two main layers:
- Turnbacks
- Offshore detention
The turnbacks policy was introduced by the Abbott government in December 2013. It authorizes the Australian Navy to intercept boats carrying asylum seekers and turn them back to their country of origin.
Offshore detention is the policy of detaining asylum seekers in detention centers located on remote islands in the Pacific Ocean. The detention centers have been widely criticized for their inhumane conditions.
Hostile Rhetoric Fuels Toxic Debate
In Australia, hostile rhetoric has fueled a toxic public debate about asylum seekers. Asylum seekers are often portrayed as criminals and a threat to national security. This rhetoric has made it difficult for asylum seekers to get a fair hearing and has led to widespread discrimination against them.
Sunak's anti-asylum rhetoric is similar to the rhetoric that has been used in Australia for years. It is likely to have a similar negative impact on the public debate about asylum seekers in the UK.
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