[Jeff and Jane Scott]

At 27-02-02 05:01 PM -0800, John Garrigues wrote:
>Here's what my Aussie friend says....
>
>The Tampa affair was a boat load of refugees that our government rejected

Indonesia was actually the closest port, but they wouldn't let them in.  so 
somehow it became Australia's problem - probably because we were the only 
country that was willing to come up with _any_ solution, good or bad.

>and sent to a Pacific hell hole (where they still are)

don't know that i'd call it a "hell hole".  given the choice between there 
and Woomera i know where i'd go.  and they're both a long way ahead of 
afghanistan or iraq or wherever.

>, at the time it was
>an election and the Government (Conservative) used the issue to inflame
>bigotry and hatred to win the election.

it should also be noted that the Labor party's policy in this area was 
exactly the same as the Lib's.

>  Central to the whole affair is the
>Government assertion that refugees threw their children into the water to
>blackmail the Aussie Government.

that was a different boat to the Tampa one, wasn't it?  but at around the 
same time.

>  Now it has come out that this was a lie and
>that the government used it knowingly. The shit has hit the fan. The public
>is outraged

most people i know don't actually give a monkeys.

>, the PM is a real fucking swine, he is worming his way out,
>accepting no responsibility.

he's a politician.  anyone else in his position would do the same.


jeff...