Immigration

Existing immigration policies are good, however we would make some adjustments.

Intake numbers of non-refugees should be reduced, because cities like Melbourne are growing too fast.

While we would not want any policies that singled out any races or religions, there are some factions of cultures/religions that have attitudes contrary to traditional Australian values.

Potential immigrants would be questioned on their attitudes towards the following, and would be asked to pledge to uphold these values:

• Gender equality
• Religious freedom
• Freedom of speech
• No childhood labour
• No physical punishment of children

An example would be asking potential immigrants if a woman could be forced to wear a full burka, or should be free to dress as they please.

You could also ask if young children should be expected to work for the family business.

REFUGEES / BOAT PEOPLE

This is quite a radical idea, and initially it would only be something to be discussed as a possibility.

Give some refugees, who otherwise would not be allowed into Australia, their own remote area of Australia to live in. Of course nobody would be allowed to starve, think the Survivor TV series. Self-sufficiency is the initial goal. The ultimate goal is to join the rest of Australia as a citizen.

To start with the town will be like any refugee camp from Africa and the Middle East. Then with expert instruction and supplies, the refugees will build their own proper town, using techniques that depend on manual labour. For example, mud brick and rammed earth houses have a high labour component.  The town will be an experiment on low-cost, high impact developments that could be used elsewhere in the world as well.

Water will be supplied (perhaps from desalination, or thin air) and the refugees can grow their own food – again with guidance and supervision and supplies.

The aim is for their life to be better than where they came from, in terms of being safe, fed, housed – but not part of a welfare system.

Citizenship and integration into main Australian life is not guaranteed, and refugees should know this before they arrive. It will only be offered to those who work well (according to their abilities) and show indications that they can lead regular lives elsewhere. Anyone who is a troublemaker or violent will have little chance of integration. All refugees will he given the chance to return to their homeland if they wish.

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This concept could also be extended to disruptive or undesirable citizens. For example, racists and bigots could be offered their own community that is free of whoever they hate.  Basically, follow the rules of society, or feel free to bugger off. And of course it could be used for the worst criminals, forced to live with each other.