[View the story "Asylum by boat? Not in Australia" on Storify ]Asylum by boat? Not in Australia Government campaign warning potential asylum-seekers sparks backlash. Storified by The Stream · Mon, Jul 22 2013 12:05:50
If you come by boat without a visa, you won't be resettled in Australia. The rules have now changed. http://pic.twitter.com/FXE1Tbuc8utwitter.com
The photo prompted an outpouring of criticism on Twitter:
We are a country of cruel, xenophobic hypocrites. #auspolMaya
Hey brown people, make sure you show these posters to your criminal families http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/19/immigration-department-asylum-seekers-advertising #vomitsJohn B
Just a nonsensical, absurdly xenophobic policy. This will be remembered in the same vein as the white Australia policy: an abomination.Brendan Molloy
The "By boat, no visa" campaign video has versions in English, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Farsi, Sinhalese, Tamil, and Vietnamese.
By boat, no visanotopeoplesmuggling
The outcry increased after the DOIC
posted blurred photos of a group of Iranian asylum-seeks awaiting transfer to Papua New Guinea.
newsroom.immi.gov.au
newsroom.immi.gov.au
Many felt the photos were distasteful:
Posting these pics is heartless and abusive RT @HouseofWelcome: Creepy photos out of DIAC. Upsetting, really.Elenie Poulos
There's PRESS PHOTOS about BEING AWFUL!?RT @upulie Australia, what is it with you? Why are you like this? http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/first-group-of-asylum-seekers-transferred-to-png-under-new-government-policy-5Ben Haylock
Human rights failure. PR failure. Great work Australia RT “@jessradio: Gross "A female asylum seeker comes to terms..http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/first-group-of-asylum-seekers-transferred-to-png-under-new-government-policy-4Imogen Brennan
Some voiced concern about the plight of asylum-seekers who are transferred to Papua New Guinea:
The people of PNG have 1 doctor per 17,068 people vs 1 per 302 in Australia. Yet its PNG that we will dump the care of our #refugees on.ASRC
Milne: You get jailed in PNG for 14yrs for being a homosexual. Is this where Australia should be sending asylum seekers?Joe O'Brien
We get asylum seekers from PNG. Now we plan to send to them there. Talk about breaching fundamental international obligations. #qandaSenthorun Raj
Others agreed with the government's new policy:
If they know they're going to PNG, boat people won't risk coming here. it's cutting down the number of boats. #QandAAndres Galban
@KenRoth West has been overgenerous to 'asylum seekers', willfully endangering cultural cohesion and increasing potential security risks.sergei
@PhilALynch @KenRoth With numbers escalating, what is the 'right' or acceptable number? Or is there no limit? More that come, more that dieJohn Psaltis
Many online shared infographics that show the percentage of asylum-seekers arriving by boat and how Australia compares to other countries.
theantibogan.wordpress.com
theantibogan.wordpress.com
