The " Boat people " problem became a nightmare when Kevin Rudd's incoming government dismantled John Howard's practical solutions and virtually opened our doors to undocumented new arrivals. Since then, desperation had bedevilled numerous plans to stop the flow - none of which have worked !
Each month the number of new arrivals increases and this has swamped our offshore detention centres. Not only are we awash with unwanted people, the bill for processing them is making serious inroads into this country's finances. Asylum seekers are eating up a massive $ 2.9 billion a year that would be better spent on items such as Gonski or the NDIS.
It seems ironic that the people who arrive here on people smuggler's boats have paid extortionate amounts for their fares - and now we are offering them more money and free transport - to go back home !
The latest plan is to dangle a " resettlement allowance " of somewhere between $ 1,500 and $ 2,000 to each asylum seeker who voluntarily steps onto a charter plane for the return flight to their original country. So far, this has delivered mixed results. It seems that the offer has been fairly attractive to asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, and many have accepted a return flight with a gift of just $ 500 in their pocket.
Success is seeing this scheme ramped up and this years budget of $ 1.7 million will increase to $ 4.3 million next year. Obviously, $ 2,000 a person, plus the cost of a seat on a charter plane is a big saving on what it costs to house, feed and maintain that same " visitor " in Australia for the next five years, and the present plans are doing that " on the cheap ".
Overfull detention centres have resulted in asylum seekers being released into the community on " bridging visas " which have unpleasant living conditions. The stipend allowance is below the poverty line and these people are denied the right to get a job and earn a living. As a result, most " exist " by the grace of the various charity organizations which hand out food and basic items. As a result, help to our own under privileged is stretched thinner.
Bribing unwanted people to go home seems like a good idea, until the law of inevitability clicks in. It will not take long for the brighter minds to realise that they hold an advantage. They are doing the government a favour - by accepting that offer, and that becomes the basis for bargaining a larger " resettlement " fee.
The big problem with solving this conundrum by throwing money at it - is that in very quick time the outflow will swamp the ability of Treasury to pay ! How long before the fee charged by the people smugglers for the incoming journey becomes the demand to reverse the process ?
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