In welcome news, the Governement has now announced a change to their-asylum seeker policy, with women and children no longer held in detention while their claims for asylum are being assessed. That’s the good news. The bad news? The fact that this policy could not be announced until after the election. Instead, in their desperate attempts to win hearts, minds and votes, the rhetoric used by both parties to address the issue of refugees was short on compassion, long on fear.  The incessant use of the dehumanising term “boats” tried to make us forget that many of those people on the boats were children, women and true refugees who had fled the terror of their home countries.

Only last week we published a post about the terrible plight of children in detention centres. The response, as always was general shock – how can this be happening in Australia in 2010? But, now it seems the detention of children may be something of the past  – thanks to this new legislation introduced by the Labour party.  According to The Australian

I struggle to see how this could be a bad move.  But at the time I am saddened by the fact that Julia Gillard could not have won the election, however closely, if she had shown this compassion and humanity before the election. As writer, author and Chaser cast member Dominic Knight said on Twitter yesterday:

Naysayers may be harping on about the fact that this will not be done immediately and that not all children will be removed from detention centres.  In the SMH we read that

But there are over 700 children in detention and if this is going to change it can only be a good thing.  Children need to be in the schooling system, they need to be able to integrate, to make friends and TO BE CHILDREN.

Our social services may be stretched and communities may be forced to be more accommodating but at what cost – having a stronger community where more people are able to be employed and contribute to society ? Where children are free to play and learn? Where adults can be compassionate and educated and SAFE from harm?

This footage of Riz Wakil was made before the elections -but the message is the same today .  Riz arrived on a boat, he was in detention for 9 months and he has gone on to set set up a business and start a family in Australia.

What do you think of the new reforms? Is this a kinder, gentler government ?

Would this new policy have changed the way you voted at the last election? How?