By L.F. Brown
27 September 2004
Then…
19% of Australians agreed the Tampa boat people should be returned to Australia now --76% said "no" and 5% were undecided.
‘Refugees Not Welcome’ Australians Say, Roy Morgan International, 19 September 2001
“That creates challenges and that's why I can't give blanket guarantees and I didn't think people would expect me to because, on the one hand, they don't want the boats to come. They want us to do everything we can to deter them. But they don't want us to behave other than in a decent, Australian fashion.”
John Howard, Australian Prime Minister
Ask him why he was first out of the starter’s gate (the Democrats said nothing for days) to protest over the Coalition’s turning back of the Tampa last year, and he says in a matter-of-fact way: “Because that’s the way we think.”
McKew: Bob Brown, The Bulletin, 25 September 2002
“We appeared to be operating in a moral vacuum which reached its zenith when our political leaders and the majority of the community were as one in refusing to allow the Tampa asylum seekers to reach our shores.”
Carmen Lawrence, Australian Labor Party MP
Refugee groups, the Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens regretted the harm the tough policy had done to Australia's image. Democrats immigration spokesman Andrew Bartlett said the government had turned its back on the nation's international obligations in a fear campaign aimed at winning votes. "It was a disgrace then, and it is a disgrace now," Senator Bartlett said in a statement.
Govt still stands by Tampa policy, AAP, 27 August 2002
…and now.
An opinion poll published in The Australian newspaper Tuesday showed more than three-quarters of those surveyed did not back action against Iraq with U.N. backing. The Newspoll showed 57 percent approved of a war against Iraq if it had the support of the United Nations, but 76 percent did not support non U.N.-sanctioned actions.
Senate censure for Howard over Iraq, CNN, 4 February 2003
"John Howard has no authority from the Australian people for this, he has no authority from the Australian Parliament…This Prime Minister is very aware that this action is unpopular.”
Bob Brown, Australian Greens Leader
But the Opposition is still not happy. Labor frontbencher Dr Carmen Lawrence has told Channel Ten without public support the Prime Minister should not commit Australia to any strike against Iraq.
Downer hopeful of UN resolution against Iraq within days, ABC News, 23 September 2002
“Surveys and polls over the last few months, including today, have demonstrated that the vast majority of Australians are opposed to Australia's involvement in a US led war against Iraq. Today I speak together with those Australians. I share their deep concerns and I share the many, many questions that they and others in this chamber have.”
Natasha Stott Despoja, Australian Democrats Senator
“It is clear from the opinion polls, the nationwide rallies several days ago and ongoing events such as this one, that the Prime Minister has failed to convince the Australian people of the case for war…”
Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats Leader
Opinion polls suggest John Howard is about to lead an unwilling nation into battle. The majority of Australians believe war should only be waged with the approval of the United Nations. Mr Howard has acknowledged that many people disagree with him, but he is forging on regardless.
Leading Australia into battle, BBC, 15 March 2003
Interesting.
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